The HRAWI has asked Maharashtra to grant an exceptional extension for Monday, 20 July, while also making similar representations to Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat.
The association says hotels and restaurants are already receiving enquiries from local supporters, domestic travellers and international visitors. Its argument is that licensed venues can provide supervision, crowd control and professional operations, potentially keeping celebrations away from unregulated locations.
That case is likely to matter as much as the football itself. Any approval would reportedly remain subject to excise rules, police guidance, noise limits, licensing conditions and public-safety requirements.
The HRAWI also sees a late-night final as a chance to support a hospitality sector built around major sporting occasions. Additional spending could flow through restaurants, hotels, transport and tourism-related businesses.
Pradeep Shetty, a spokesperson for the association, reportedly argued that the extension could create extra revenue for licensed operators and connected industries. The HRAWI has also pointed to earlier temporary relaxations in Karnataka and Assam as precedents for a carefully regulated approach.
The issue is not simply about serving drinks until dawn. It is about whether governments can create a framework that recognises the global appeal of football while maintaining clear boundaries for public order.
The decision from Maharashtra and the other states will determine whether supporters can gather openly for the final. The next storyline will be whether India’s authorities treat the occasion as a regulatory challenge-or as an opportunity to bring the World Cup closer to the public.