Mississauga plans to have restaurants and bars serve alcohol to customers for an extra hour every day during FIFA World Cup 2026 action this summer.
Mississauga city council agreed on Wednesday to request that the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario permit licensed local bars and restaurants in Mississauga to extend the hours of alcohol service to 3 a.m. for the duration of the upcoming World Cup “to coincide with late-night match broadcasts and to support local businesses while allowing fans to watch matches together.”
The five-week FIFA event, held every four years, runs June 11 to July 19 this year and is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Games in Canada will be played in Toronto and Vancouver.
The motion adopted by city council, which was introduced by Deputy Mayor and Ward 4 Coun. John Kovac, also asks the AGCO to designate the 2026 FIFA World Cup as “an event of national significance.”
In the preamble to his motion, Kovac noted the World Cup brings “excitement, unity and celebration” to communities around the world. In Mississauga, the deputy mayor added, the city recognizes “the enthusiasm of our residents and the many local fans who gather to cheer on their favourite teams — an opportunity for everyone to come together and celebrate this international event.”
With many of the matches to be held on the west coast in both Canada and the U.S., fans in Mississauga and elsewhere in the east will be watching late-night action into the wee hours in some cases.
Last month, the City of Mississauga revealed plans to show 62 World Cup matches on the big screens at Celebration Square in the downtown core by city hall.
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