The reported plan would standardise the closing time across New York’s counties, avoiding a patchwork of local restrictions while matches unfold across multiple time zones.
For fans, that could mean watching a full match, discussing the result and meeting fellow supporters without immediately having to leave. For bars and restaurants, the tournament represents a rare opportunity to become informal fan hubs rather than simple places to catch a game.
The report presents the policy as both a hospitality boost and a way to involve residents without tickets. That balance will be central to its success.
The tournament is scheduled to open with Mexico vs South Africa at Estadio Azteca, an imposing setting for the first match of the competition.
The United States will then begin its campaign at home against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Those fixtures underline the scale of the tournament, moving from one football-mad city to another while inviting supporters into the event far beyond the stadium gates.
New York’s reported decision could make bars a defining part of the supporter experience, particularly when matches finish late or tickets remain out of reach.
The first major test will come when the opening whistle sounds in Mexico City. If the late-night approach works, it could offer a blueprint for how host regions turn a global tournament into a daily local celebration.