In a historic break from tradition, the Premier League will stage just a single fixture on Boxing Day this year, dramatically scaling back one of English football's most cherished holiday customs.
Why the Festive Fixture List Has Been Slashed
The famous Boxing Day football schedule has been all but abandoned for 2025, with only Manchester United versus Newcastle United set to take place on Friday, December 26th. The match is scheduled for an 8pm kick-off.
This controversial decision, reported by The Daily Mail, is primarily due to intense calendar pressures. The expansion of UEFA club competitions and the FA Cup's move to exclusive weekend dates have created a significant fixture backlog. Furthermore, Premier League bosses are bound by broadcast contracts to deliver 33 weekends of action, meaning Boxing Day is now treated as a standard Friday in the football calendar.
The remaining festive fixtures will be spread across Saturday, December 27th, Sunday, December 28th, and Monday, December 29th.
A Tradition Under Threat and Broader Consequences
The Boxing Day football tradition dates back to 1888, becoming a staple after Christmas Day matches faded in the mid-1960s. Its erosion highlights a wider clash between modern football's commercial demands and its historic rhythms.
Top-flight managers like Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have long voiced frustrations over winter fixture congestion. The UEFA expansion has already led to the contentious scrapping of FA Cup replays, a move criticised for stripping vital revenue from lower-league clubs.
EFL CEO Trevor Birch lamented the loss of this "traditional revenue stream," warning it widens the financial gap within the football pyramid. National League CEO Mark Ives also clarified that his organisation did not support the decision to axe replays, which was made by the Professional Game Board.
Will Boxing Day Football Return?
There is a glimmer of hope for traditionalists next year. Boxing Day 2026 falls on a Saturday, which could allow for a full slate of matches to return, assuming broadcast scheduling permits.
This year's solitary fixture, however, marks a significant moment for the English game. It underscores how the relentless growth of the European and domestic calendar is reshaping long-standing traditions, often at the expense of the game's historic footprint and the economic model of clubs outside the elite.
