The Premier League is set to break a long-standing tradition by scheduling only one fixture on Boxing Day in 2025. This significant change, driven by major broadcast changes and UEFA competition expansions, is sure to cause a stir among football fans.
Traditionally, the day after Christmas—Boxing Day—has been marked by several top-flight matches. The English Football League (EFL) fixtures across the Championship, League One and League Two also follow suit during this busiest time in the football schedule. However, due to an expansion of UEFA competitions and FA Cup matches being moved exclusively to weekends, there will be just one single Premier League match on Boxing Day in 2025.
Contractual obligations and scheduling challenges
To meet their contract obligation with broadcasters, the Premier League must provide 33 weekends of football. With Boxing Day falling on a Friday in 2025, it's reported that only one match could be televised following the usual format of a single Premier league fixture at week's end.
Despite this massive break from tradition potentially upsetting football-loving families nationwide, talkSPORT reports that this is likely a one-off occurrence. In fact, when Boxing Day falls on Saturday next year it should return back to normal scheduling. In exchange for dropping FA Cup replays from their schedule—a move that has been met with mixed reactions—the Premier league agreed to restore the FA Cup fifth round to a blank weekend. They also committed not playing top flight fixtures on the same weekend as the FA Cup sixth round.
To fit all required games into season 2025/26 while adhering these new rules means December 27 must become part of regular match day fixtures. As things stand now though remaining teams are scheduled for play on December 27; however some games may be moved.
Broadcast dates and previous seasons
The Premier League was due to announce TV broadcast dates for the entirety of December and January on October 15. Last season, eight matches were played on Boxing Day, which fell on a Thursday, with the remaining two staged a day later. The last time Boxing Day was on a Friday—in 2014—all 20 Premier League teams played that day.
This year's lack of Boxing Day action follows another controversial decision made during the festive period in December 2023 when Wolves hosted Chelsea in the Premier League on Christmas Eve. This marked the first time in 28 years that a top flight match had been set for that day—a move met with criticism due to travel concerns for fans and reduced public transport services during this traditional family travel day.
As we look forward to future seasons, it remains to be seen how these changes will impact fan engagement and overall football culture.
