Premier League to Play One Boxing Day Match

Multiple reports say the Premier League will stage just one match on Boxing Day 2025, ending the traditional full round on Dec. 26. The change is driven by broadcasters' contractual obligations to deliver 33 weekend rounds and five midweek programmes, together with UEFA competition expansion and the FA Cup moving to exclusive weekend scheduling after replays were scrapped. Most Premier League fixtures are being moved to the weekend of Dec. 27–28, with remaining top‑flight matches expected mainly on Monday Dec. 29; the English Football League and National League will still run full Boxing Day programmes. The league missed its promised Oct. 15 TV announcement and has not yet confirmed which single fixture will be broadcast. If confirmed, it would be the fewest top‑flight matches on Dec. 26 since World War II, and the Premier League expects to return to a fuller Boxing Day schedule in 2026 when Dec. 26 falls on a Saturday.