World Cup 2026: Licensing Extensions by Scottish Licensing Boards*
*This is general guidance only. Where available hyperlinks are provided to the relevant Licensing Board’s webpage. This provides more information including any relevant conditions and/or exclusions. You should always take legal advice on your individual circumstances.
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General extension granted for the duration of the World Cup.
On-sales premises can remain open until 0300 for the purposes of televising any fixture.
For fixtures involving the Scotland National Team, premises may remain open until 30 minutes after the conclusion of the fixture.
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A general extension has been granted for all Home Nation games (Scotland & England); All Quarter Finals; All Semi Finals; The Third Place Playoff; and The Final.
For premises licensed for on-sales under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, venues showing a relevant match may stay open and serve alcohol until 30 minutes after the final whistle (including 15 minutes drinking‑up time).
The authorisation comes with conditions detailed in the guidance available on the Board’s website. Importantly, if your venue plans to use the extensions, you must give the Board at least 21 days’ notice.
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For all matches (group stages and beyond) involving the Scotland team that have a scheduled kick off time prior to the terminal hour shown on the operating plan, the Board approved a general extension of licensed hours of 15 minutes post final whistle.
For Haiti an extended hours application will be required with a deadline of 30 April 2026.
For non-Scotland matches individual extended hours applications will be required.
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General extension for on-sales premises with TV sport allowed in the operating plan,. Allows premises to open for 30 minutes post final whistle of an Scotland match. It does not cover other nations’ matches.
The Board plans to contact licence holders to confirm whether they intend to utilise the extended hours.
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General extension granted.
Pubs will be allowed to remain open for 30 minutes after Scotland matches end.
For all other World Cup matches, pubs will be allowed to stay open until 1am to show the games or 30 minutes after any 11pm kick-off match ends – whichever is later.
Premises must have TV sport permitted in their operating plan.
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Extended hours must be applied for to show any games.
The Board agreed one extended hours application can be made for three Scotland games, free of charge.
Should Scotland progress further in the tournament, further extended hours applications may be lodged free of charge.
There is no indication the Board would support applications for other matches but each application would be determined on its merits.
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A general extension has been granted for premises to remain open for 30 minutes after full time of any home nations match.
TV sport must be permitted in the operating plan and further guidance will be issued by the Licensing Board to venues in due course.
https://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/news/article/14707/licensing_extension_agreed_for_world_cup
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General extension granted for the duration of the World Cup.
On-sales premises allowed to remain open for 30 minutes after the final whistle/end of play of a live World Cup 2026 football match where it is being shown within the licensed premises, beyond the terminal hour. (Premises must have televised sport within its operating plan).
The Board will contact licence holders to request information on the games they intend to screen (it will be a voluntary survey).
https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/news/article/14364/late-licences-approved-for-world-cup
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A two pronged approach.
A general extension for Scotland’s 11pm KO matches (vs Brazil and Morocco) allows premises to open until 30 minutes after the full time whistle.
For the Haiti match which has a 2am KO an extended hours application will be required.
Premises will need to have TV sport permitted in the operating plan
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On-Sales premises who have
(i) seasonal variations and
(ii) televised sport
are automatically entitled to open as follows:-
(a) extension to licensed hours on days where the Scotland National Team are playing until 30 minutes after the Scotland match ends;
(b) on all matchdays for the purpose of televising matches until 1am the following morning or 30 minutes after the end of any match kicking off at 11pm, whichever is the later.
Anything beyond this requires an extended hours application.
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General extension granted for the duration of the World Cup.
On-sales premises allowed to remain open for 30 minutes after the final whistle/end of play of a live World Cup 2026 football match where it is being shown within the licensed premises, beyond the terminal hour. (Premises must have televised sport within its operating plan).
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General extension granted for Scotland matches only . It only applies to on-sales licensed premises that have televised sport in their operating plan.
Notification to the police and the Board of an intention to remain open must be made by 16 April.
A further meeting is scheduled to discuss other nations’ matches.
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No general extension.
The Board will invite individual extended hours applications by premises licence holders.
Closing time will be 30 minutes after the final whistle for those successful in extending their hours.
The deadline for submission of applications will be 31st March 2026.
https://www.north-ayrshire.gov.uk/news/apply-for-extended-world-cup-opening-hours
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Premises which hold a full premises licence permitting the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises and includes a provision in their operating plan to show televised sport are entitled to remain open until 30 minutes after the end of Scotland’s World Cup matches being screened live. This does not apply to any match other than Scotland. No U18s will be permitted.
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General extension granted to premises with an on-sale premises licence.
To benefit and remain open up to a maximum of 30 minutes after the final whistle of all World Cup matches licence holders must, at least 48 hours before any extended hours, notify the Board of the dates they wish to trade. You must also comply with various requirements which can be found here -
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General extension for pubs screening matches involving any of the home nations until half an hour after the final whistle.
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No general extension.
The Board will invite individual extended hours applications by premises licence holders.
Premises must have TV sport permitted in their operating plan.
The deadline for applications is 31 March 2026.
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Premises which hold a full premises licence permitting the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises and includes a provision in their operating plan to show televised sport are entitled to remain open until 30 minutes after the end of World Cup matches being screened live. This applies to any match.
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Premises which hold a full premises licence permitting the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises and includes a provision in their operating plan to show televised sport are entitled to remain open until 30 minutes after the end of Scotland’s World Cup matches being screened live. This does not apply to any match other than Scotland.
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Premises which hold a full premises licence permitting the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises and includes a provision in their operating plan to show televised sport are entitled to remain open until 30 minutes after the end of World Cup matches being screened live. This applies to any match.
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Premises which hold a full premises licence permitting the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises and includes a provision in their operating plan to show televised sport are entitled to remain open until 30 minutes after the end of Scotland’s World Cup matches being screened live. This does not apply to any match other than Scotland.
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Stirling Licensing Board has agreed a general extension for all on-sales licensed premises to show World Cup matches that kick off during core opening hours.
Core hours for most premises are 11am to midnight (Sunday to Thursday) and 11am to 1am (Friday and Saturday). Premises will need to make an application for extended hours for matches which kick off outside those core hours.
This extension and application requirement extends to all games for the 2026 World Cup, not just Scotland’s initial three group stage matches.
For example for most Scotland matches it would mean the general extension applies to all matches except the Haiti game on June 14, which has a 2am kick off. Premises wishing to show this match will need to make an application for extended hours.
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Premises which hold a full premises licence permitting the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises and includes a provision in their operating plan to show televised sport are entitled to remain open until 30 minutes after the end of Scotland’s World Cup matches being screened live. This does not apply to any match other than Scotland. However the Board are going to consider whether to widen the scope of the extension at a further Board Hearing - likely 12 May 2026.
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No general extension granted the Board has invited individual extended hours applications.
The deadline to apply is 31 March
Conditions to be applied
https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/licensing
