FIFA World Cup 2026: Pubs in UK to stay open for England's Round of 16 clash against Mexico, says PM Starmer
London, July 2
United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that pubs in the UK will be allowed to open early morning on Monday, July 6 to screen England's FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match against Mexico, encouraging fans to support the Three Lions.
In a video posted by him on X, Keir Starmer said, "We're making sure that pubs can stay open on Monday morning, early on Monday morning for the England game. So I know lots of people are making their plans. If you're planning to watch it in the pub, that is great and it's really good for pubs as well. So come on England."
Coming to England's 2026 World Cup campaign so far, they defeated Croatia 4-2, drew 0-0 with Ghana, and then registered a 2-0 win over Panama in their group stage.
In their Round of 32 clash, England came from behind to beat Congo DR 2-1 in a tense clash, with captain Harry Kane scoring twice to secure a place in the Round of 16 against co-hosts Mexico.
Congo DR stunned England early through Brian Cipenga's 7th-minute opener and held firm for much of the first half, frustrating England despite their dominance in possession. The African side went into the break leading after disciplined defending and sharp counter-attacks.
England turned the match around late in the second half after tactical changes, with Kane equalising in the 75th minute before completing his brace in the 86th minute to complete a comeback victory.
On the other hand, Mexico started their group stage with a 2-0 win against South Africa and then defeated South Korea 1-0 before registering a 3-0 win over Czechia in their final group-stage match.
In their Round of 32 contest against Ecuador, they emerged victorious 2-0. The win marked Mexico's first FIFA World Cup knockout-stage victory since 1986 and snapped an eight-match streak of eliminations in World Cup knockout fixtures, the longest such run in the competition's history, according to OptaJoe's X handle.
Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez scored in the first half to give El Tri a strong lead, while their defence once again held firm to secure a clean sheet.
Ecuador dominated possession after the break but failed to break through, and their challenge ended further when Piero Hincapie was sent off in stoppage time. The win marked Mexico's fourth consecutive victory of the tournament and extended their run without conceding a goal, underlining their strong form on home soil.
Now, both England and Mexico will meet in the Round of 16 on July 5 (local time).
— ANI
Reader Comments
Wait, England only just squeezed past Congo DR and now they face co-hosts Mexico in their own backyard? 🇲🇽 That's going to be a massive test! And Mexico hasn't conceded a single goal in this tournament? Their defence is looking rock solid. If I were an England fan, I'd be nervous despite all the early pub openings. I'm from the US originally but living in India now, and I'll be rooting for the underdogs here - Mexico's story is incredible, their first knockout win since '86!
Pubs opening early in the morning for football? Only in England! 😂 Here in Delhi, we're up at odd hours for Premier League matches anyway, but getting government backing is next level. But let's be real - Mexico at home is going to be electric. Their fans are passionate, and they've found their defensive mojo after years of heartbreak. England needed a late Kane rescue act against Congo, which doesn't inspire confidence. I see Mexico winning this 2-1. Starmer's pub opening might be premature!
As someone who grew up in Manchester before moving to Bangalore, this news warms my heart. The communal spirit of watching football in a pub with strangers is something you don't truly value until you're miles away. My only concern is that the government is focusing on symbolic gestures while there are bigger issues to tackle. Still, for a few hours on Monday morning, I'll be secretly streaming this match at 4 AM IST and pretending not to be too invested. Come on England! 🏴
I'm a bit torn on this. On one hand, it's lovely that the PM is encouraging people to come together and support the team. But why do politicians always jump on the sports bandwagon when it's convenient? 🙄
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