Ontario extends last call to 4 a.m. for World Cup

A 4 a.m. last call will push Ontario bars and restaurants two hours deeper into the night during FIFA World Cup 2026, forcing operators to cover longer shifts, later cleanup and safer rides home for staff and guests while chasing a brief spike in late-match sales. The temporary change runs from June 11 to July 19, replacing Ontario’s usual 2 a.m. cutoff as Toronto prepares to host six matches at Toronto Stadium between June 12 and July 2.

The province is pairing the later closing time with longer liquor-store hours. The LCBO will extend hours at 27 retail stores in the Greater Toronto Area and Ottawa, with those locations open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Doug Downey said the goal is to let fans “fully experience the energy, excitement and atmosphere” of the event while supporting jobs, local businesses and economic growth. Tourism, Culture and Gaming Minister Stan Cho said the change would help deliver a “safe, vibrant and welcoming experience” for fans from around the world.

For restaurant owners and managers, the upside comes with a familiar list of costs. Two more hours of service can mean extra labor, higher overtime exposure, more security, later transit for bartenders and line cooks, and a longer window for alcohol-liability problems if guests stay too long after close. The change also lands during a tournament expected to drive heavy traffic into bars, patios and fan zones, which makes scheduling harder in kitchens already dealing with turnover, burnout and tight staffing. Some venues are unsure the later hours will pay off, even with the promise of bigger sales from watch parties and postgame crowds.

Ontario has made temporary alcohol-hour adjustments before, including during the 2026 Olympic gold-medal hockey game between Canada and the United States and during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when some matches began as early as 5:30 a.m. ET. This tournament is larger, with 48 teams across three host countries, and Toronto’s six matches will test whether a longer night translates into enough volume to cover the extra labor, compliance and closing costs that come with it.