Delhi govt allows eateries to stay open till 4 am for FIFA World Cup final

New Delhi ( Pallavi Srivastava) : As excitement for the FIFA World Cup 2026 final reaches its peak among football fans, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday announced that restaurants, cafes and other eligible establishments across the national capital can remain open till 4 am this weekend, allowing fans to fully enjoy football's biggest night.

Defending champions Argentina will take on Spain in New York in search of their fourth World Cup title and a second consecutive triumph.

Every football fan has watched Lionel Messi make history. Now, history has one more story to tell. A legend. A teenage prodigy. One trophy. One night that generations will remember. Delhi is ready for that night," Gupta said in a post on X. The chief minister said the decision has been enabled under the city's 24x7 business-friendly operating framework introduced as part of the government's ease of doing business reforms.

With the city's 24x7 business-friendly operating framework already in place under our government's ease of doing business reforms, restaurants, cafes and other eligible establishments across the capital can welcome fans till 4 am this weekend, making it easier for the city to experience football's biggest night together," she added.

In a similar move, Bengaluru Police on Friday said hotels and restaurants will be permitted extended food service hours on July 19 and 20 to facilitate public viewing of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

According to an order issued by Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh, hotels and restaurants within the Bengaluru City Police Commissionerate limits will be allowed to serve food till 5 am on July 19, when the third-place play-off is scheduled, and till 3:30 am on July 20, when the final will be played.

The order, issued following a representation from the National Restaurant Association of India, said the extension has been granted under the provisions of the Karnataka Police Act, 1963. It added that the existing closing time for food service is 1 am and that the revised timings will apply only on the specified dates.

West Bengal plans live screening across districts Meanwhile, the West Bengal government will organise a live screening of the FIFA World Cup final on a giant screen in Kolkata, allowing football enthusiasts to watch the match together. Similar live screenings on large screens will also be held at key locations across districts. All district administrations have been directed to set up screening facilities, and ₹1 lakh has been allocated to each district for the purpose, according to an official notification issued by Additional Chief Secretary of the Youth Services and Sports Department, Rajesh Pande, reported