Midnight Madness For FIFA World Cup Final! Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru Relax Restaurant Closing Hours

Football enthusiasts across several Indian cities will not have to rush home to catch the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, as authorities have extended operating hours for restaurants, cafes and hotels ahead of the blockbuster clash between Argentina and Spain.

The final, scheduled to begin at 12.30 am IST on July 20, will see defending champions Argentina chase a fourth World Cup crown and a second consecutive title.

Delhi Eateries To Stay Open Till 4 AM

In Delhi, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced that eateries and cafes across the capital will be allowed to operate until 4 am over the weekend. Sharing the update on X, Gupta wrote: “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.”

Bengaluru has also introduced special arrangements for football fans. The city police have permitted hotels and restaurants within the commissionerate limits to extend food service hours for the final on July 20. Under the order issued by Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh, food outlets can remain open until 3.30 am on July 20. The temporary relaxation follows a request from the National Restaurant Association of India and has been granted under the Karnataka Police Act, 1963.

Mumbai, too, has approved extended hours for restaurants, hotels and other food establishments, allowing them to remain open until 4 am on July 20 to facilitate public screenings of the final.

Meanwhile, the Assam government has relaxed restaurant timings in Guwahati and other districts where local authorities permit it. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said eateries can remain open until 3.30 on July 20 for the World Cup final.