Tesco, the well-known supermarket chain, has announced a plan to shut down over 2,000 of its stores in the event that England reaches the World Cup final on Sunday. The closure would affect its Express stores across England, allowing employees to leave early to watch the match if England defeats Argentina.

Employees will still receive their regular pay for the shortened hours. Tesco’s larger stores in England will already be closed by the time of the final match at 8pm, reopening the next day as usual. However, the Tesco Express stores will operate normally during the daytime on Sunday, which is expected to be a busy day for supermarkets as fans prepare for the game with purchases of beer and snacks.

Customers can still use Tesco’s fast Whoosh service until 11pm for last-minute essentials. Online grocery orders for Sunday evening will also be delivered as scheduled. Stores in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland will maintain their regular hours.

Kevin Tindall, Tesco’s UK Operations managing director, expressed the company’s support for its employees by allowing them to celebrate if England advances to the final. In contrast, Tesco will not close its stores early for the England vs. Argentina game, while Currys, an electronics retailer, will close its stores an hour earlier to allow staff to watch the match.

VoucherCodes predicts that 26.2 million viewers will tune in for England’s semi-final against Argentina, with many expected to gather in pubs, bars, and fan zones. The hospitality industry is projected to see a significant increase in sales, with fans estimated to consume 9.7 million pints during the match.

Supermarkets and other retail establishments are anticipated to benefit from a spending spree of £357 million, with the majority of sales coming from food and beverages, sportswear, and electronics.