The Premier League is likely to schedule just one fixture on Boxing Day 2025 due to a crowded calendar and broadcast commitments. Falling on a Friday, the date will follow standard scheduling with only one televised game, while the rest shift to the weekend. This breaks from tradition but is expected to be a one-off occurrence.
Boxing Day 2025, which falls on a Friday, presents a scheduling challenge for the Premier League. Officials are set to limit the day to a single match, aligning with the usual single broadcast slot for Fridays. The remaining nine fixtures will likely occur over the weekend of December 27-28 and Monday, December 29, marking the fewest top-flight games on December 26 since 1982.
This shift stems from multiple pressures on the calendar. The expanded UEFA Champions League extends into January, while the FA Cup requires exclusive weekends for its fourth, fifth, and quarter-final rounds—a concession tied to the elimination of replays. Additionally, broadcast contracts mandate 33 full weekends of matches and only five midweek rounds, leaving little flexibility. The league was due to announce TV selections for December and January by October 15, but fixtures are confirmed only up to December 22 so far.
The decision has sparked debate, particularly over fan travel on a day with limited public transport. Historically, when Boxing Day last fell on a Friday in 2014, all 10 matches were played, including Liverpool's 1-0 win over Burnley with a goal from Raheem Sterling and Manchester United's 3-1 victory against Newcastle, where Wayne Rooney scored twice and assisted Robin van Persie. More recently, eight games took place in 2024 (a Thursday), five in 2023, and seven in 2022.
In contrast, the EFL plans a full Boxing Day program, followed by another round on December 29. Premier League teams are slated to resume from December 30. With Boxing Day on a Saturday in 2026, the league anticipates restoring the traditional feast of fixtures.
