The Karnataka government has allowed hotels and restaurants in Bengaluru to extend their food service timings until 3:30 am on July 14, 15 and 19 to facilitate late-night showing of FIFA World Cup matches, Chief Minister D K Shivakumar announced on Tuesday.
In a post on X, Shivakumar said the decision was taken at the request of the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), allowing establishments to continue serving food beyond the usual 1 am timing on the specified dates.
“Following a request from the National Restaurant Association of India, our government has allowed hotels and restaurants in Bengaluru to extend their catering timings from 1.00 am to 3.30 am on July 14, 15 and 19 to facilitate late-night showing of matches,” Shivakumar wrote.
He added that the relief was granted while ensuring that public safety, law and order and comfort of citizens remain the government’s top priorities. Shivakumar also appealed to football fans to enjoy the matches responsibly and cooperate with the authorities during the extended hours.
The move is expected to benefit restaurants, pubs and sports bars across Bengaluru, where football has a strong following and major international tournaments often attract large crowds for live shows.
The extended working hours coincide with the closing stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which began on June 11 and is jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The tournament is the first 48-team FIFA Men’s World Cup, with teams from around the world competing over the course of over a month.
Read also: The 2026 World Cup reduced to four: Who is unstoppable, who is weak and who will reach the final?
FIFA semi-finals, final dates
After the group stage and knockout rounds, the competition has now reached the semi-finals scheduled for July 14 and 15, with the final match taking place on July 19.
The tournament attracted a large viewership in India despite the matches being played late at night or in the early hours of the night due to the time difference with the host countries. Football fans across major cities are gathering in restaurants, pubs and sports bars to watch live performances, especially during the knockout stage, prompting hospitality establishments to look for longer opening hours.
