The World Cup is underway across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Because of the time differences, many matches are scheduled to kick off late in the evening and end in the early hours of the morning UK time. To help you get around the city late at night, we’ve put together a short guide with some useful tips and tricks that should make getting to and from wherever you’re watching the games across the capital that bit easier.

Key fixtures and kick-off times

While many group stage games take place during the afternoon and early evening, several key matches will finish late at night.

England Group Stage Matches

  • England vs Croatia – Wednesday 17 June at 9pm
  • England vs Ghana – Tuesday 23 June at 9pm
  • Panama vs England – Saturday 27 June at 10pm

Knockout rounds and final

  • Round of 32 to Round of 16: 28 June to 7 July (Kick-off times vary between 5pm, 9pm, and 10pm)
  • Quarter-Finals: 9 July to 11 July (Kick-off times at 6pm and 10pm)
  • Semi-Finals: Tuesday 14 July and Wednesday 15 July at 8pm
  • World Cup Final: Sunday 19 July at 8pm

Box clever

Stations right next to major screening spots, fan zones, and busy pubs like Boxpark, Wembley, or London Bridge get incredibly busy as soon as the final whistle blows.

  • Avoid the main station crowds: The closest stations to big screenings often have to use strict one-way systems or temporarily shut their doors to stop platforms from getting dangerously crowded. Walking 10 to 15 minutes to the next station down the line can often get you home much quicker.
  • Check the app before you leave: Don’t wait until you get to the ticket barriers to see if there is a problem. Open the TfL Go app or Google Maps before you leave the venue to check live station crowding and find quieter routes.
  • Get your card ready: Make sure your contactless card, phone, or Oyster card has enough money or battery life before you reach the barriers so you don’t get caught out.

 

Late-night travel

Matches kicking off at 9pm or 10pm will finish right as regular public transport starts to wind down for the night. If a knockout match goes to extra time and penalties, things will finish even later.

Weeknight matchdays (Sunday to Thursday nights)

  • Watch the clock: On weeknights, standard Tube and National Rail services start shutting down around midnight. If a match finishes near 11pm, it is best to use the TfL Journey Planner to check when your last connecting train leaves before the game even starts.
  • Look for high-capacity alternatives: If you need to cross central London late on a weeknight, your best bets are the Elizabeth line or London’s huge network of 24-hour Night Buses (the ones with an ‘N’ before the number). These can move a lot of people quickly after midnight.

Weekend matchdays (Friday and Saturday Nights)

  • The Night Tube: 24-hour overnight trains run on the Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly, and Victoria lines.
  • The Windrush line (London Overground): Overnight weekend trains run specifically on the Windrush line between Highbury & Islington and New Cross Gate.

Taxis and apps like Uber or Bolt

  • Watch out for price hikes: Demand for ride-hailing apps are likely to spike after the final whistle. As a result, you will likely face surge charge pricing and long wait times for a vehicle.
  • Try a black cab instead: To avoid paying over the odds, hail down a London taxi or walk to a taxi rank outside a main railway station. Licensed black cabs use fixed, regulated meters, so they do not put their prices up just because it is busy.

Other resources and links