Ontario bars, restaurants will be able to sell alcohol until 4 a.m. during World Cup

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Licensed Ontario restaurants and bars will be allowed to sell alcohol until 4 a.m. during the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

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Licensed Ontario restaurants and bars will be allowed to sell alcohol until 4 a.m. during the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

The province announced the temporary extension Tuesday morning, saying it would help support tourism and local businesses during the international soccer tournament.

Toronto is set to host six games starting June 12, and the province says the extended hours will apply from June 11 to July 19.

Last call for alcohol service is typically 2 a.m., though the Ontario government has made temporary changes in the past for major sporting events such as the recent Olympic gold medal hockey game between Canada and the United States.

The LCBO will also have extended hours at 27 stores in the Greater Toronto Area and Ottawa between June 11 and July 19. The province says those stores will be open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.

Vancouver is hosting seven World Cup matches but the British Columbia government has not issued a blanket extension of serving hours.

Instead, businesses were given until March 31 to apply for extended hours.

The City of Vancouver last July extended serving hours in the downtown core to 4 a.m. every night of the week, upon application from businesses.

A glass of beer is displayed in Vankleek Hill, Ont., on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2013.  THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
A glass of beer is displayed in Vankleek Hill, Ont., on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 19, 2026.

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