New Delhi, July 18: Football enthusiasts in the national capital, especially fans of Lionel Messi, will be able to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final well into the night, with Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announcing that restaurants, cafés and other eligible establishments can remain open until 4 a.m. over the weekend.

Inviting residents to celebrate football's biggest night together, Chief Minister Gupta said Delhi is fully prepared to host fans under the city's business-friendly operating framework.

"Every football fan has watched Lionel Messi make history. Now, history has one more story to tell. A legend. A teenage prodigy. One trophy. One night that generations will remember. Delhi is ready for that night," the Chief Minister posted on X.

She said the government's 24×7 business-friendly operating framework, introduced as part of its Ease of Doing Business reforms, enables restaurants, cafés and other eligible establishments across the capital to welcome guests until 4 a.m., allowing football lovers to enjoy the World Cup final together.

The Chief Minister highlighted that permitting round-the-clock business operations has been one of the key policy initiatives of the Delhi government since it assumed office. Alongside expanding the state's budget from ₹75,000 crore to ₹1 lakh crore, the government has introduced several reforms aimed at improving the business climate. These include a Single Window System for approvals, 75 e-District services, a warehousing and logistics policy, and enhanced support for MSMEs and the manufacturing sector.

Referring to legislative reforms, Gupta noted that the Delhi Cabinet approved the Delhi Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026in December 2025. The proposed legislation seeks to decriminalise minor offences, simplify compliance procedures, and promote both Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living.

According to the Chief Minister, the Bill will replace criminal proceedings for minor technical and procedural violations with civil penalties, administrative fines and an appellate mechanism, reducing the burden on courts while making governance more efficient.

She added that the Delhi legislation aligns with the Central Government'sJan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, under which several minor offences under Central laws have already been decriminalised. The Delhi government's objective, she said, is to create a more business-friendly and citizen-centric regulatory environment while improving the overall ease of living in the capital.