New York Gov. Kathy Hochul extends bar hours for FIFA World Cup

Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News on Jun 9, 2026

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NEW YORK — When the games are on, the bars will be open.

With the FIFA World Cup just around the corner, Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday signed a bill allowing bars across New York to stay open until 4 a.m. for the duration of the tournament. The competition runs from June 11 through July 20 and will feature more than 100 matches across the United States, Mexico and Canada, including the championship game at nearby MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

It also marks the first time the men’s World cup has come the United States in 32 years.

“I want every New Yorker and local business to be part of the action and celebration, no ticket required,” Hochul said in a statement to Times Union. “From the first kick to the last whistle, bars and restaurants across our state can stay open.”

Hochul’s bill overrides closing times in 38 of the state’s 62 counties, while other parts of New York, including New York City and Albany County, already allow for bars to stay open into the early hours of the morning.

The city is expected to host a series of events throughout the tournament, with viewing parties set to take place at spots including the Central Park Great Lawn, Rockefeller Center, and Brooklyn Bridge Park. Bars and pubs across New York City have also made plans to celebrate the largest sporting event in the world, all of them gearing up for a massive influx of soccer fans in the coming weeks.