A cross-section of UK cinemas are showing World Cup football matches this summer, with the next England game taking place this evening (June 23) against Ghana, kicking off at 9pm (BST).
Fifa requires cinemas and other public venues to submit a public viewing licence request, with the cost for the licence starting at around £750 per venue. An exhibitor must also obtain prior written approval to charge a direct or indirect admission fee. Most cinemas are selling tickets for around £10.
Showcase cinemas in Dudley, Nottingham and Peterborough are selling tickets for tonight’s England game, as well as England’s final group game on Saturday, against Panama.
Arc Cinemas in Beeston, Blackpool, Daventry, Great Yarmouth, Hucknall and Preston are also showing tonight and Saturday’s matches.
Picturehouse is selling ticket-and-drink bundles for a range of World Cup matches. As well as England games at Chester, Clapham, Greenwich and Hackney branches, the Finsbury Park venue will show Portugal v Congo tonight and Canada v Switzerland tomorrow (Wednesday, June 24).
Curzon is only showing the World Cup at one venue, the open air Curzon Canterbury Riverside, for free.
Six Vue cinemas in Scotland are screening the Scotland games, with the next one taking place tomorrow, against Morocco. Vue had initially intended to play the England matches, but a spokesperson for the company said owing to “unforeseen technical issues” the exhibitor is unable to screen the England group stages, with affected customers refunded, and hopes to screen further matches.
The Light Cinemas are showing both upcoming England matches, at venues including Addleston, Banbury and Huddersfield.
As it stands, the two biggest exhibition chains in the UK, Odeon and Cineworld, do not have any World Cup matches scheduled.
Among independent venues, east London’s Genesis is showing tonight’s match but does not currently have a screening of Saturday’s match scheduled. Bristol’s Watershed is not showing any matches but has been screening football-related films on Sundays throughout June.
Major titles on release this summer attempting to compete with the World Cup for eyeballs are Disney’s Toy Story 5, Universal’s Disclosure Day, Warner Bros’ Supergirl, Universal’s Minions & Monsters and Universal’s The Odyssey. The World Cup final takes place on July 19.
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