Why is there only one Premier League game on Boxing Day this year?

"There is set to be just one Premier League match played on Boxing Day this year. We're now in December, so excitement for Christmas is building, but for football fans, it is the day after which usually provides the main event. Leftover turkey, scavenging selection boxes and getting set up in front of the TV for a day of uninterrupted football. Bliss, right? Not this year."

"On 26 December, there will be just one match played in England's top tier: Manchester United vs Newcastle United, slated for an 8pm start. An interesting fixture, no doubt, but nothing compared to last season's eight matches, with kick-offs at 12:30pm, 3pm, 5:30pm and 8pm. Thankfully, this year is set to be an exception rather than a new normal, with the Premier League blaming a calendar congested by expanded European tournaments, and Boxing Day falling on a Friday."

"There are now several challenges to Premier League fixture scheduling rooted in the expansion of European club competitions. This ultimately left the Premier League as a 33-weekend competition fewer than previous seasons, despite being a 380-match competition since 1995. With fewer weekends to work with, the League is bound by how the calendar falls. The League can give an assurance that next season there will be more Premier League matches on Boxing Day as the date falls on a Saturday."

Only one Premier League match will be played on Boxing Day 2025: Manchester United vs Newcastle United at 8pm. Last season featured eight matches with kick-offs at 12:30pm, 3pm, 5:30pm and 8pm. The reduced Boxing Day schedule results from calendar congestion caused by expanded European club competitions, which left the League with 33 available weekends despite retaining a 380-match season. Boxing Day falling on a Friday this year further constrained scheduling. The Premier League attributes the limited fixtures to these constraints and assures that more matches will be scheduled on Boxing Day 2026 when the date falls on a Saturday.

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