The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup kicks off on Thursday 11 June and will run until Sunday 19 July.
Earlier this week, the Government confirmed UK pubs will be permitted to stay open later for any home nation knockout match during the competition.
Licensed premises in England and Scotland will be able to extend trading hours to 1am or 2am for late night fixtures, with Wales and Northern Ireland also eligible should they qualify.
With games starting late into the evening, there is lots for operators to consider. Below, Tomlinson explores things you should consider before showing the World Cup at your pub.
Q: I’m thinking of showing this summer’s World Cup in my pub after a lot of customer interest. Do I need a licence, and is there anything I should be aware of?
A: Showing live television broadcasts in your pub is not, in itself, a licensable activity under the Licensing Act 2003. This means you do not need a premises licence variation or a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) simply to screen live matches.
However, there are a few important points to consider.
If you plan to show pre-recorded matches, extended highlights, or other pre-produced content before the event, during intervals, or after the match, this could amount to the exhibition of a film. The exhibition of film is a licensable activity, so you should check that your premises licence includes this permission.
You must also ensure you have the correct commercial subscription in place with your broadcaster (for example, Sky, TNT Sports or similar). Domestic subscriptions are not valid for commercial premises, and unauthorised broadcasting can lead to enforcement action and significant fines.
With a busy summer of sport ahead, including major football tournaments, Wimbledon, Formula 1, cricket internationals and other high-profile events, many venues are also considering screening matches outdoors.
If you intend to use an outdoor area:
- Check your premises licence for any conditions restricting outdoor entertainment, use of TVs, hours of operation, or noise levels
- Consider whether a TEN is required if you are proposing licensable activities outside the scope of your existing licence (for example, regulated entertainment not already permitted outdoors); or if you want later hours or if you want to disapply a condition for example a limit on a external area
You should also think carefully about capacity and crowd management. High-profile matches can draw larger-than-usual and highly enthusiastic crowds.
Noise from cheering, chanting and post-match celebrations can lead to complaints from neighbours and scrutiny from the local authority.
Proactive steps, such as managing outdoor closing times, using signage, stewarding busy matches and monitoring noise levels can help reduce the risk of nuisance complaints.
In short, while live broadcasts themselves are not licensable, the wider circumstances around screening major sporting events can engage licensing, planning and public nuisance considerations.
A quick review of your premises licence conditions before the tournament starts can save significant issues later on.
- Alex Tomlinson is a solicitor at Poppleston Allen
