Hospitality businesses in Aberdeen will be given extended opening hours for Scotland’s fixtures at this summer’s FIFA World Cup after a decision by Aberdeen City Council’s licensing board.
The licensing board has approved a city-wide extension that will allow hospitality venues to operate beyond their usual closing hours during Scotland’s group stage fixtures. The move gives pubs, restaurants and bars the opportunity to remain open until 30 minutes after each final whistle, enabling full match coverage and a managed dispersal period for customers.
The licensing board’s decision follows industry lobbying for more flexible hours to ensure fans can watch late‑night kick‑offs without missing key moments. Ahead of the council’s meeting, the Scottish Beer & Pub Association (SBPA) had urged local authorities to adopt a pragmatic approach to licensing for the tournament, arguing that extended hours would support safe, communal viewing and boost hospitality trade revenues.
Paul Togneri, senior policy manager at the SBPA, said previously that pubs and bars provide “a safe and welcoming space for fans” and that flexibility from licensing boards would help Scotland’s licensed trade capitalise on the national team’s return to the World Cup after a long absence, while managing responsible enjoyment.
The council’s extension applies specifically to World Cup matches and is intended to give venues clarity and planning certainty ahead of the summer tournament. No additional national policy on licensing hours has been announced for Scotland, so decisions on hours beyond the tournament period remain with local licensing boards.
Scotland will play its first World Cup game on 14 June 2026 against Haiti, kick‑off scheduled for 02:00 UK time, with subsequent group fixtures against Morocco and Brazil starting at 23:00.