It's the question on every West Australian's lips: where can they go to watch the kick-off of the FIFA World Cup in the wee hours of Friday morning?

Well, the state government has answered — 28 pubs, bars and sporting clubs across WA have been granted exemptions to trade until half an hour after the final whistle. That means you can grab a drink and watch Mexico take on South Africa at 3am Friday without being kicked out at closing time.

The 2026 World Cup is a logistical nightmare for Australian fans. For the first time, the tournament is spread across three nations — Mexico, Canada and the United States — with the round of 16 and beyond all played in US cities. That puts most matches slap bang in the middle of the night for WA.

But the state government's trading hours exemption is a lifeline. Licensed venues that applied and got the nod can stay open late, as long as they stop serving half an hour after the match ends. Most of the approved venues are in the Perth metro area, but regional fans aren't left out — pubs in Bunbury, Dalyellup and Kalgoorlie are also on the list. Venues as far south as Mandurah and as far north as Carramar are joining the party.

If you're in Northbridge, you're in luck. The Piazza will host a big screen for the tournament, similar to the Fed Square broadcasts in Melbourne. That's the closest thing to a live atmosphere you'll get at 3am.

The Socceroos have a mixed bag of kick-off times. Their opener against Turkey on Sunday is a very civilized midday here in WA. But the second group match against the USA kicks off at 3am on Saturday, June 20. The final group game against Paraguay on Friday, June 26 is at 10am — not bad.

The semi-finals are both at 3am — one in Dallas, one in Atlanta. And the final? Monday, July 20, at 3am in New York. So start stockpiling coffee now.

Venues can still apply for the exemption, but the process takes about a week. So if your local isn't on the list yet, tell them to get moving.

  • 28 venues approved so far for extended trading
  • Most matches kick off between midnight and 3am WA time
  • Tournament runs June 11 to July 20, 2026
  • Co-hosts: Mexico, Canada, USA
  • Socceroos play Turkey (12pm), USA (3am), Paraguay (10am)
  • Final: Monday July 20, 3am in New York

"It's the question on every West Australian's lips: where can they go to watch the kick-off of the FIFA World Cup in the wee hours of Friday morning?" — Source article