𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Pubs up and down the country will stay open for England’s mouth-watering last-16 tie against Mexico this Monday morning (July 6). While the decision has been welcomed by devoted fans of the Three Lions, police have slammed the Prime Minister for the “late announcement” which has forced them to adapt their plans at the last minute.

Anyone who has followed the progress of this year’s World Cup, from the official draw in Washington D.C. last December to England’s dramatic comeback win against the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday (July 1), would have known that Thomas Tuchel’s men were always set to be travelling to the Azteca Stadium, in Mexico City, in the last-16. It was England’s most likely match at this stage and has been on the lips of fans since the fixtures were drawn over seven months ago. So why has Sir Keir Starmer left it until just days before to confirm that boozers can stay open until 5am?

The last-minute decision has left police forces scrambling to adjust their plans with officers now required to work extended shifts which will take them away from local communities. The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has criticised Starmer’s late announcement, explaining that the “likely route for England progression has been known for a considerable time”.

They now have to find more officers to man the streets as millions of fans are set to spill out of pubs during the early hours of Monday morning. While most fans are respectful, it’s no secret that late night games can bring out the worst in some.

Police are frustrated as it has been common knowledge that if England won their group, as they were expected to do, and Mexico also won their group, as they were expected to do, then the pair would meet in the last-16 for a clash that has been scheduled to take place at 1am since the draw at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on December 5 last year.

Most football fans proudly display a World Cup wall chart in their kitchen during the tournament. The deeply-rooted tradition allows them to fill in the scores of the tournament as they track potential clashes during the knock-out stage.

The fact that the Prime Minister failed to foresee the fixture taking place and left it until four days before the match to confirm extended pub hours perfectly encapsulates the scrambling that has defined his leadership. With more organisation and foresight, he could have informed police forces that pubs would stay open late if England made it to the round of 16. It was always the likely outcome and a decision could have been made weeks ago.

This being said, it is of course positive news that pubs can stay open late to show the match on Monday morning. Nothing brings together the English public like a World Cup summer and the chance to play Mexico at their home ground will be a bucket list occasion.

It is also a massive win for hospitality operators, who have grappled with increased costs under Starmer’s leadership, as they will benefit from a vital financial boost. The decision to extend pub opening hours for the match is of course a victory of common sense, but why couldn’t Starmer get a wall chart like the rest of us?