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:

• An extremely congested European fixture calendar
• The FA Cup now scheduled for weekends
• The need to satisfy broadcasters' demands

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.

Aliou Toundé |

Editorfr