Assam extends restaurant timings for FIFA World Cup semi-finals and final

Guwahati: As football fever grips Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced an extension of restaurant operating hours in Guwahati and other districts to enable football fans to watch the FIFA World Cup semi-finals and final.

In a statement issued on X, the Chief Minister said restaurants in Guwahati have been permitted to remain open till 3:30 am on July 15, 16, 19 and 20, coinciding with the FIFA World Cup semi-finals and final.

"Football unites people, and we want our sports lovers to enjoy the FIFA World Cup semi-finals and final without inconvenience," Sarma said.


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The Chief Minister said he has authorised the Guwahati district administration to extend restaurant timings on the specified dates to facilitate football enthusiasts watching the late-night matches.

He further stated that district administrations across the rest of Assam have also been empowered to grant similar extensions wherever there is a request from Restaurant Owners' Associations and sufficient public demand.

The move is expected to benefit restaurants, cafes and other establishments hosting live screenings of the matches, while allowing football fans to gather and enjoy the tournament on big screens, catering to the increased demand during the late-night matches.

Urging citizens to celebrate responsibly, the Chief Minister concluded his announcement by saying, "Enjoy the beautiful game responsibly."

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CM FIFA Fan Parks have come up in Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Jorhat and Lakhimpur.

Lakhimpur MLA Manab Deka said that football has always enjoyed a special place in the hearts of people in the Northeast. According to him, the sport is much more than a game, as it has the power to unite people beyond borders, languages and cultures.

“In India, cricket is undoubtedly a religion. But at the same time, in the Northeast, football is the heartbeat,” Deka said.

He added that initiatives such as the CM FIFA Fan Parks allow people to celebrate the beautiful game together while strengthening the spirit of brotherhood and community participation. The screenings, he said, are meant to ensure that football fans can enjoy the World Cup in a festive atmosphere closer to home without missing the excitement of the global sporting spectacle.