Andy Burnham, a prominent figure in British politics, has encouraged the public to take advantage of the opportunity to stay in pubs until the early hours of the morning to watch England's World Cup match. The game against Mexico is scheduled to kick off at 1 a.m. UK time, with the potential to extend past 3 a.m. due to a blocked attempt to bring the start time forward and possible delays from thunderstorms.
Burnham described the situation as a "golden chance" to gather in pubs on a school night and urged people to "make the most of it." Employers are reportedly anticipating that staff may arrive late, be tired, or not show up for work at all following the late-night match. The Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, has also appealed to parents to ensure their children do not miss school because of the game.
The match is set to take place at Mexico's high-altitude Azteca stadium, marking the first time England has played there since the 1986 World Cup "hand of God" match against Argentina.
In a related development, pubs across England have been granted permission to remain open until 5 a.m. without requiring special license extensions, although the announcement came too late for many establishments to make necessary arrangements.
Burnham, an Everton supporter, has a known affinity for football and has previously supported proposals to allow alcohol consumption in the stands at matches. He has criticized the long-standing ban in England's top five leagues, which has been in place for over four decades as a measure to curb hooliganism.