Hyderabad Stays Up Late for FIFA World Cup Final; Govt Allows Late-Night Screenings, Extended Bar Hours
Hyderabad: The city prepared for the FIFA World Cup final to be held late at night on Sunday; The provincial government held a public screening of the match between Spain and Argentina at the People’s Plaza and allowed hotels, restaurants and bars to remain open until the match was over.
The sweep was scheduled to begin at 11.30pm, an hour before the 12.30am kick-off on Monday, and eligible licensed outlets in the CURE area were allowed to serve liquor until 3am following a separate excise department order.
Restrictions similar to those imposed on New Year’s Eve will remain in place, police said. It was expected that measures would be taken throughout the night to control drunk driving, public nuisance and other violations.
Although states like Kerala and Manipur have announced school closures. IT workers contacted said they did not have the option to work from home, log in late or take Monday off. But one employee said he would have to skip the screening because he had to report early the next day.
Football fans organized watch parties at home and abroad. Abhijeet Bose said that it was difficult to miss the final even for those who do not follow every match.
“This World Cup has made me feel the excitement of watching football with friends. Public screenings and extended bar hours will give people an unforgettable experience and allow local businesses to make money,” he said.
Speaking on the same note, Joy S. said that the late night scene had an unusual feeling. “It’s nice to see people out late at night celebrating football. It’s a rare sight so it’s pretty exciting.”
He added that his biggest dream is to see India reach the tournament. “Will India be able to witness their team in the World Cup? That’s something I’m looking forward to. For now, it’s a good opportunity to spend time with friends, mostly at home.”
