Delhi restaurants, cafes to stay open till 4 am for Argentina vs Spain FIFA World Cup final: 'One night that...'

Ahead of the Argentina vs Spain FIFA World Cup final this weekend, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday announced that restaurants, cafés and other eligible establishments across the national capital can remain open till 4 AM, allowing football fans to gather and watch the highly anticipated clash together.

Sharing the announcement on X, Ms Gupta said the extended operating hours are possible under the Delhi government's 24x7 business-friendly operating framework, introduced as part of its ease of doing business reforms.

"Every football fan has watched Lionel Messi make history. Now, history has one more story to tell," she wrote.

The Chief Minister added, "A legend. A teenage prodigy. One trophy. One night that generations will remember."

She concluded the post by saying, "Delhi is ready for that night."

Explaining the move, Ms Gupta wrote, “With the city's 24x7 business-friendly operating framework already in place under our government's ease of doing business reforms, restaurants, cafés and other eligible establishments across the capital can welcome fans till 4 AM this weekend, making it easier for the city to experience football's biggest night together.”

The announcement comes ahead of the Argentina vs Spain FIFA World Cup final, which is expected to keep football fans across India awake into the early hours. Several restaurants and cafés in Delhi are likely to host live screenings of the match, giving supporters a chance to watch the final together.

According to the Chief Minister, the existing policy framework allows eligible establishments to remain open late, enabling businesses to serve customers during major global sporting events while also boosting Delhi's nighttime economy.

While Ms Gupta referred to "a legend" and "a teenage prodigy" in her post, she did not identify any players or teams.

Her announcement quickly drew attention online, with many football fans welcoming the decision to allow late-night screenings at restaurants and cafés across the city.

Earlier, Karnataka government on Tuesday allowed hotels and restaurants in Bengaluru to remain open and serve food until 3.30 am on July 14, 15 and 19 in view of the FIFA World Cup matches, PTI reported.

Following a request from the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), the government has relaxed timing for July 14, 15 and 19, when the World Cup matches are scheduled, it said, in a statement.

Under the provisions of the Karnataka Police Act, Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh has issued the order permitting late-night screening of the matches, it added.

Taking to the social media platform ‘X’, Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said that football inspires millions across the world, and the FIFA World Cup is a celebration that fans eagerly look forward to.

“Following a request from the National Restaurant Association of India, our government has permitted hotels and restaurants in Bengaluru to extend food service timings from 1.00 am to 3.30 am,” on the specific match days, he said.

Shivakumar said this decision has been taken while ensuring public safety, law and order, and the convenience of citizens, remain our highest priorities.