Premier League: Boxing Day set for a major change | OneFootball

Premier League: Boxing Day set for a major change

Boxing Day, regarded as one of the most special days in English football, is about to undergo a major transformation this season.

Since 1958, the English calendar has always featured a full round of league fixtures right after Christmas. This date is beloved by fans across the globe: packed stadiums, a festive atmosphere, and a marathon of football on TV. But this year, the celebration will look different. For the first time in 67 years, the Premier League will stage only a single match on December 26.

Why this change?

The English football authorities are facing several challenges:

To avoid player overload and to coordinate competitions properly, the Premier League has decided to spread the matchweek over several days. So, barring any last-minute changes, only one fixture will take place on Boxing Day. The rest of the matches will be played between December 27 and 29.

This is a real shock for supporters who are used to enjoying 10 matches in a single day, as was still the case in 2024 with 8 games played on Boxing Day.