By Peter Omopo
In a major break from a century-old football tradition, the Premier League has confirmed that only one fixture will be played on Boxing Day, December 26, 2025 — a significant reduction from the usual full schedule of festive matches.
According to a report by BBC Sport on Friday, Manchester United will host Newcastle United in the lone Boxing Day fixture, marking the first time in modern Premier League history that the iconic day will feature just one match.
The league explained that the change was due to the expansion of European club competitions and other adjustments to the global football calendar.
“The Premier League would like to acknowledge the circumstances that have led to a reduced number of matches on Boxing Day this season – impacting an important tradition in English football,” the league stated while confirming the festive schedule.
It noted that ongoing fixture congestion, combined with reforms to the FA Cup and European competitions, had forced the league to condense its calendar to 33 weekends — fewer than in previous seasons — while still maintaining the full 380-match schedule.
“With fewer weekends to work with, the League is bound by how the calendar falls,” the statement added.
The league also clarified that since Boxing Day 2025 falls on a Friday, seven fixtures will be played the following day (Saturday, December 27), and two more on Sunday, December 28, to complete Matchweek 18.
Among the other festive fixtures are Sunderland vs. Leeds United and Crystal Palace vs. Tottenham Hotspur, while Matchweek 19 is set to begin on Tuesday, December 30, with six games lined up.
Despite the disappointment among traditionalists, the Premier League assured fans that the Boxing Day schedule will return to normal next season when the date falls on a Saturday, allowing for a fuller slate of matches.
“As with previous years, and in keeping with our commitment to clubs, special arrangements have been made to allow more time between games played across the festive period,” the statement continued.
The league said the adjustment will ensure players receive longer recovery times, with rest periods between Rounds 18, 19, and 20 extended so that no club plays within 60 hours of another match.
Boxing Day fixtures have long been a beloved hallmark of English football, offering fans around the world a post-Christmas feast of matches. This year’s scaled-down schedule, however, marks a rare pause in one of the sport’s oldest traditions — a reflection of the growing pressures of the modern football calendar.
