The report says the arrangement is tied specifically to the final. That matters because a World Cup showpiece can extend beyond 90 minutes if extra time and penalties are required.
For supporters, the key detail is the clear 4am cut-off. It would cover the match itself, the immediate reaction at full-time and the movement of crowds afterwards. Restaurants could keep screenings and gatherings running without an early closure interrupting the occasion.
The proposed hours are also a practical measure for venues. Closing immediately after the match could send large groups onto the streets at the same time. A later deadline would allow restaurants to stagger departures, settle bills and manage post-match crowds more gradually.
That does not guarantee every venue will host a screening. Individual restaurants would still need to decide whether the extended hours suit their staff, licences and expected demand. However, the reported permission would remove one major scheduling obstacle.
Major international finals regularly move beyond traditional sports audiences. In Indian cities, public screenings and restaurant gatherings have become important ways for fans to share matches that begin outside normal dining hours.
The next storyline will be how Maharashtra’s venues use the extended window: whether restaurants organise official screenings, how many supporters stay beyond full-time and whether the 4am limit is sufficient if the final produces a dramatic finish.