Bars Stay Open Till 4 AM During World Cup
Ontario extends last call for FIFA tournament, LCBOs follow suit. A summer of late-night celebrations is officially approved.
The Ford government just green-lit something bar owners and night owls have been dreaming about: a two-month license to stay open later. Starting June 11, licensed establishments across Ontario can serve alcohol until 4 a.m. for the duration of the FIFA World Cup—a full two hours past the usual 2 a.m. cutoff.
It's not just the bars. Select LCBOs will extend their hours too, meaning you won't have to scramble for a last bottle before midnight. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario says participating venues don't need to apply—the exemption is automatic for the tournament window (June 11–July 19).
For Ottawa's nightlife scene, this is a meaningful shift. The city's bar culture already thrives on soccer fans gathering for early-morning matches (think Argentina versus someone in Vancouver time). Now those watch parties can actually happen without the awkward "time to settle your tab" moment at 1:45 a.m. Restaurants and bars have been quietly lobbying for this for years; the World Cup finally gave the province a reason to say yes.
It's a limited window—just 39 days—but it signals something: governments can move fast when there's consensus. Whether this becomes permanent after July 19 is another question, but for now, Ottawa's summer social calendar just got a solid upgrade.