WORLD Cup boozers were gearing up for a late night footy knees-up last night as Fifa revealed all of England’s group games will be played in opening hours.
Football chiefs unveiled games in Dallas, Boston and New York will all be in late evening TV viewing time back home.
England’s curtain raiser clash against old foes Croatia – who beat the Three Lions 2-1 at the Russia 2018 semi-final – will kick off in Dallas on June 17 at 4pm – 10pm UK time.
England’s second Group L game against the African “Black Stars” of Ghana will kick off at 9pm UK time in Boston.
And Thomas Tuchel’s team’s final group fixture will start at 10pm UK time against Panama in New York’s 82,500-seat MetLife Stadium.
Tuchel was further boosted by the news that the crucial Dallas opener will be played in the air-conditioned AT&T Stadium, shielding his stars from searing summer heat.
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The fixture schedule will see millions of Lionhearts tuning in back later than normal evening match kick-off times – despite time differences of five hours on the East Coast and six in Dallas.
But rivals Scotland face the drag of late night games into the early hours after being drawn against five times world champs Brazil.
Scotland fans will kick off their opener against Haiti at 9pm in Boston on June 13 – 2am back home.
Their next games, against Morocco in Boston on June 19 and the mighty Brazil on June 24 in the heat of Miami both kick off at 11pm UK time.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino hosted a mercifully shorter ceremony yesterday to unveil the match schedule after Donald Trump starred in a bizarre two-hour draw show on Friday.
Infantino was joined by Brazil’s double World Cup winner Ronaldo Nazário, Italian tournament winner Francesco Totti and legends Hristo Stoichkov of Bulgaria and Alexi Lalas of the USA.
The match schedule was thrashed out in talks between Fifa and major TV partners including the BBC and ITV after Friday’s draw.
World soccer chiefs estimate that the biggest ever World Cup’s 104 games will be watched by six billion fans across the globe.
And England fans and pub bosses were looking forward to late night games last night.
Fan Colin Johnson, a 34-year-old heating engineer from West London said: “I can’t wait to watch the action down the pub.
“We could have been up into the early hours which is always a problem when you have to work the next day but these match times are only a bit later than a normal evening game.”
The government announced on Wednesday that pubs will be able to pour pints until 1am if England reach the quarters, semis or final of next summer’s World Cup.
With games likely to kick off in the cooler evenings in the US, Canada and Mexico, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood proposed to extend opening hours back home.
UKHospitality Chair, Kate Nicholls, said: “This news is a welcome boost for the hospitality industry.
“Everyone knows that if you aren’t able to attend the game itself, your local pub or bar is the next best place to do it.
“Big sporting events always provide a sales boost for the sector and operators will be pulling out all the stops to ensure fans get the very best experience, as they cheer on the home nations.”
The Beer and Pub Association estimate If England and Scotland get favourable kick off times, an extra 18 million extra pints will be poured for thirsty fans.
And 55 million more pints could be served across the UK during the tournament if England reaches the final and most games are played during opening hours.
Emma McClarkin, CEO of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: “The pub has and always will be the home of live sport and we expect fans to flock to their local.
“Nothing beats watching the match at the pub, and publicans will be delighted to play their part in serving up delicious pints and a warm welcome for fans across the country.”
Greg Mulholland, Campaign Director of the Campaign for Pubs said: “It’s great news that England matches will be during opening hours and will give us all something to look forward to.
“But unless the government listens and u-turns on its appalling business rates betrayal, there will be many pubs shutting before we even get to the World Cup.”
Travelling England fans were rocked this week by the news that costs of following Tuchel’s men next summer may be double the sums paid for pricey Qatar in 2022.
Ticket prices are expected to be astronomical after Fifa grabbed a 30 per cent share of the resale market and air fares and hotel charges will rocket as demand soars.
And Three Lions fans will also be clobbered by some of the highest beer prices in the tournament after being drawn in group games in expensive US East Coast cities.
If England had landed a game in Guadalajara fans would have paid as little as £2.04 for a pint – but prices will be nearer £10 at our group games in the US.
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