Monday morning mayhem fears as London pubs stay open to 5am for England v Mexico World Cup tie

Police chiefs have slammed the government for the late announcement that pubs could remain open Police chiefs have slammed the government for the late announcement that pubs could remain open Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories, opinion and expert analysis I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice. Police chiefs have been left scrambling to deploy officers for the Monday morning World Cup clash between England and Mexico. More officers are having to be put on duty in the early hours as England fans are due to leave pubs in London and other parts of the country at the end of the game. The showdown with co-hosts Mexico is due to kick-off at 1am at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, at an altitude of more than 7,000 feet. The threat of thunderstorms and heavy rain caused FIFA to consider bringing the kick-off forward six hours, to the far more social time of 7pm BST on Sunday. However the football governing body has confirmed the original 1am BST planned start time will remain. The possibility of a delayed kick-off due to bad weather remains, while the match could also go to extra time and ultimately penalties. Pubs will be allowed to stay open to 5am on Monday PA If this happens, England fans could be hitting the streets just as early-morning workers are heading into the office and other workplaces. Sir Keir Starmer announced on Thursday that pubs across England and Wales will be able to stay open until 5am for the round of 16 match. But the National Police Chiefs’ Council criticised the timing of the Government’s decision. In a joint statement, Chief Constable Mark Roberts, NPCC lead for football policing, and Acting Chief Constable Scott Green, NPCC lead for alcohol licensing and harm reduction, said the “late announcement” meant forces having to adapt plans and take officers away from communities. They also urged England fans to be considerate to others and drink “sensibly” during the game, with hundreds of pubs across England due to stay open for the match. A Met Police spokesperson told The Standard: “We are aware pubs will be allowed to stay open until 05:00hrs on Monday and will have sufficient officers to deal swiftly with any issues or offences. Read More England vs Mexico kick-off time to remain unchanged after FIFA talks Argentina snatch dramatic extra-time win as Cape Verde fairytale ends World Cup round of 32 results and last-16 knockout fixtures Sponsored Make 2026 the year of working smarter “We encourage all football fans to enjoy watching the match safely without causing disruption to others.” The police have questioned the ‘late announcement’ which has left forces having to adapt plans PA Wire In their statement, the police chiefs said: “We recognise there will be significant public interest in England’s match on Monday morning and that many of the public will want to come together in pubs and licensed venues to enjoy the occasion. “We also know from previous tournaments the knock-out games sadly see an increase in violent incidents particularly in the night-time economy and an increase in domestic abuse. This is directly linked to alcohol consumption. “The likely route for England progression has been known for a considerable time yet this late announcement leaves policing having to adapt our plans seeing officers working extended shifts which in turn takes them away from communities. “From a policing perspective, our priority is to support people to enjoy the match safely and responsibly. We therefore ask those watching the game to be considerate – drink within sensible limits, and behave in a way that keeps you, your friends, staff, officers and the wider public safe.” Greene King PA Archive Greene King said more than 600 pubs across England will be staying open late to show the match and Marston’s said more than 400 will be open late. There were already signs that many businesses are expecting some staff not to show up on Monday morning, and others to be struggling having stayed up into the early hours. Firms have scheduled almost a third fewer meetings as well as cancelling telephone calls, according to data by Gong Labs, a platform that connects to business calls and emails. Chief executive Amit Bendov said: “Our latest data suggests early morning meeting cancellations are already running above a typical Monday, and UK teams have booked roughly 30% fewer morning meetings than usual. “But the work itself isn’t stopping, it’s simply changing channels – suggesting employees and businesses across the UK are planning around World Cup fixtures so results aren’t sacrificed in favour of supporting the Three Lions. “Rather than stepping away from work altogether, people are shifting how they communicate with partners and customers. “The lesson for leaders isn’t to fear a drop in productivity during the tournament. “When supported with the right tools that let them stay productive, major events like this can actually help boost morale, strengthen relationships with customers and create more opportunities for meaningful conversations that support revenue growth.” Ros Morgan is chief executive of HOLBA HOLBA Unions are calling for employers to be flexible if England fans stay up until the early hours. Ros Morgan, chief executive of Heart of London Business Alliance, which represents over 500 businesses, said: “I don’t think our economy can afford for Monday to become an unofficial bank holiday where nobody comes to work.“ “Having said that, this is a one off, so common sense should apply. I’m sure most businesses will be pretty flexible about what happens on Monday morning. “They’re all now well used to flexible and hybrid working, so as long as the work ultimately gets done, it may make sense for many to show some leeway and push Monday morning meetings back a bit.” TfL has confirmed that they will not be running any special services around the game, but have reminded fans to checking before they travel and to stay safe. A TfL spokesperson said: “Our night-time transport network features more than 100 bus routes to help people travel across London, as well as our regulated taxi and private hire networks.” MORE ABOUT

The story has drawn attention across the crime landscape, with experts pointing to its immediate implications for policy, markets, and public confidence.

Beyond the headline update, analysts are closely watching how institutions and local stakeholders respond over the next week as timelines, priorities, and accountability measures become clearer.

For readers, this development is part of a broader shift that has been unfolding over recent months, and the next round of announcements will likely define its long-term impact.