11pm rule means people risk £100 fine during FIFA World Cup matches

11pm rule means people risk £100 fine during FIFA World Cup matches Football fans need to be careful that they don't fall foul of the law People could put themselves at risk of being fined or possibly even losing their TVs if they break a rule during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. There are measures in place that could see fans' property seized if they fail to show respect for their neighbours. In the UK, homeowners are entitled to peace and quiet between 11pm and 7am, a period legally defined as 'night hours'. With the 2026 World Cup being hosted in North America, many matches will run into the early hours of the morning and past 11pm. England is yet to play a match in the 2026 World Cup, but that changes this week. Supporters have kick-offs that all start before these hours, but the nail-biting second halves will be running late into the night: - England vs Croatia: Sunday, June 17 - kick off at 9pm (UK time). - Engalnd vs Ghana: Friday, June 23 - kick off at 9pm (UK time). - England vs Panama: Wednesday, June 27 - kick off at 10pm (UK time). While the UK government has eased licensing laws to allow pubs to remain open later for certain matches, residential noise restrictions have not been changed. The statutory night hours rules continue to apply strictly between 11pm and 7am. Neighbours are still legally entitled to those quiet hours. People who are screaming at the TV or blasting the commentary through a soundbar can quickly cross into illegal antisocial behaviour. What trouble could fans potentially face? Under the Noise Act (1996), if a council officer measures noise from inside a complainant's house during these hours and it exceeds the permitted legal limit (which is generally 34 decibels, or 10 decibels above the underlying background noise), they can issue a warning notice. If the warning notice is ignored, the person can be issued an on-the-spot £100 fine. If they still don't turn it down, Section 10 of the Act gives council officers the power to enter the property and seize and remove any equipment being used to make the noise. If your TV or sound system is seized, the council will typically store it for 28 days. To get it back, the offender has to pay all the council's expenses, which include officer time, vehicle hire, storage fees, and the cost of a locksmith (if needed). These fees can easily total several hundred pounds, often making it more expensive to retrieve the TV than it is worth. Confiscation is often the quickest way to deal with the noise in the moment, with the actual punishment being harsher, including fines and criminal records. If the person refuses to pay the £100 fine, or if the council decides to bypass the fine and prosecute them directly for breaking the warning notice, the case goes to a Magistrates' Court. On conviction, they face a criminal record and a fine of up to £1,000. Breaching a Section 80 Abatement Notice or being convicted under the Noise Act constitutes a mandatory breach of standard tenancy agreements. Local councils will share this data directly with landlords or housing associations, who can use the court conviction to fast-track eviction proceedings.