Sweden will participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in the USA, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19. Due to the time difference, several matches will be broadcast late at night or early morning Swedish time. Sweden's premiere against Tunisia on June 15 starts at 04:00 Swedish time, according to multiple reports.
To accommodate fans, several municipalities are temporarily extending alcohol serving hours. Region Gotland has temporarily extended serving hours during the World Cup, allowing serving until 08:00 when Sweden plays, subject to individual application review, according to Ragnar Gustavii (M), chair of the Environment and Building Committee. The decision to extend serving hours was made on the same day by Gustavii on delegation from the committee, according to two sources. Under normal rules, alcohol may be served between 11:00 and 01:00, and previously the latest permitted serving time was 03:00, according to official sources. In exceptional cases, further extensions beyond 03:00 can be granted with special conditions, such as extra security personnel, according to official sources.
Gävle kommun's Social Committee has proposed an initiative to allow restaurants to serve alcohol until 07:00 to show World Cup matches, according to Gävle kommun. The proposal also includes allowing guests without pre-booking and waiving the food requirement for serving alcohol, subject to a national law change on June 1, according to Gävle kommun. The initiative has been sent to the police and the municipal environmental and health protection unit for comment, according to two sources. A final decision on extended serving hours in Gävle is expected during week 17 or 18, according to official sources. Gävle kommun recommends that businesses wait to apply for extended hours until further information is provided.
In Göteborg, Moderaterna and Miljöpartiet have opened up for extending serving permits during the World Cup, according to the parties. Göteborg's red-green coalition has submitted a proposal to grant temporary permits until 06:00, according to Klara Holmin (MP). In Stockholm, the ruling Social Democrats have urged bars to extend their permits temporarily, but extending beyond 05:00 is difficult, according to Emilia Bjuggren (S). Stockholm's socialnämnd has voted yes to a temporary rule change allowing bars to apply to stay open until 08:00 between June 11 and 14, according to two sources. The final decision on Stockholm's extended hours will be made in the fullmäktige in May, according to two sources. Socialdemokraterna in Växjö are positive to the M proposal and want to enable extended hours, according to Arijeta Rechi (S). Örebro's Bygg- och miljönämnd is expected to adopt temporary guidelines for the period June 11 to July 19, allowing extended hours for World Cup matches, according to Elisabeth Malmqvist (C). In Örebro, each application for extended hours will be assessed individually with consideration for order, safety, and noise, according to Malmqvist. O'Learys in Eskilstuna hopes to get an exception to stay open until 06:00 for Sweden's matches, according to Eskilstuna-Kuriren. A bar owner in Jönköping wants to stay open during World Cup nights, according to Joaquin Salazar. Borås Tidning has produced a proposal for extended serving permits, according to the newspaper.
In Norway, the prime minister has opened for a law change regarding serving hours during the championship, according to Expressen Sport. Eight restaurants in Strängnäs and Mariefred have been granted extended outdoor serving until midnight from April 1 to October 31, according to two sources.
Meanwhile, in Russia, LDPR deputies Igor Lebedev and Dmitry Svishchev proposed amendments to lift the ban on retail sale of beer at official football competitions, except during children's and youth events, according to the deputies. The bill's authors argue that funds from beer sales could finance professional and youth sports development, according to the authors of the project. The bill references global practice, citing sponsorship by brewing companies of events like the Olympics and World Cup, with examples including Heineken as sponsor of the 2012 London Olympics and Budweiser as IOC sponsor and World Cup partner, according to the authors of the bill. Beer is allowed at football matches in many European countries including Germany, England, Ireland, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Hungary, according to two sources.
FIFA's structure allows its President to dominate, and the organization's history under Stanley Rous and Joao Havelange shows differing attitudes towards political involvement, according to two sources. Under Havelange, FIFA moved towards a 'virulent crony commercialism' focused on money to sustain power, demonstrating a flexible approach to keeping politics out of the game, according to two sources. FIFA membership grew from 54 predominantly European and South American countries in 1961 to 140 by 1974, with new members from former empires, according to two sources. Stanley Rous believed football could maintain Britain's profile as its political empire receded, based on wartime experiences, according to two sources.