Millennium Square will be an alcohol free zone for World Cup showings

Spectators in Millennium Square during the 2014 World Cup. PIC: Jonathan Gawthorpe

England’s World Cup campaign to be screened live on big screen in Leeds city centre

The council are creating a family friendly viewing area for this year's screenings and football fans will not be allowed to bring in their own alcohol or purchase it from any of the bars around the square.

For the last World Cup tournament in 2014, a fully licensed bar was available in the venue, although fans were not allowed to bring in their own alcohol.

This changed for the Euros in 2016 when the council decided not to serve alcohol in the outdoor arena.

Despite the booze ban, the family friendly viewing area will have a number of street food outlets and some picnic style seating.

Fans are advised that gates open around one-and-a-half hours before kick off and admission will be strictly on a first-come first-served basis.

The venue will be live screening every England game throughout the tournament, starting with the England vs Tunisia game on Monday, June 18 at 7pm.

They will then take on Panama on Sunday, June 24 at 1pm and Belgium on Thursday, June 28 at 7pm.

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If England qualify from their group, they will then move into the knockout stages and fans have been assured they can watch all of the drama unfold live in Millennium Square, either on Monday July 2 or Tuesday July 3, if England reach round 16 and if they subsequently advance to further rounds.

Other World Cup matches will be shown on the big screens on a non-designated event basis, alongside selected tennis matches from Wimbledon.

Leader of Leeds City Council, Councillor Judith Blake, said: “We are delighted to officially announce that fans will once again be able to join us this summer on Millennium Square as England begin their World Cup campaign in Russia.

"The atmosphere for England matches on Millennium Square is always electric, and we are looking forward to providing a fantastic family friendly experience in which to enjoy the big match action.”