What will Super Data-FIFA be like that changes the football calendar from 2026
FIFA made changes to the FIFA Dates model, periods in which teams compete in friendlies or qualifiers and clubs are obliged to release their players. Credit: TV Estadão
O boxing day It’s a centuries-old tradition in the United Kingdom. But it will not be maintained by Premier League in 2025. The date is celebrated on the day after Christmas, December 26th, and has been considered an official holiday since 1871.
The name is associated with donations made in boxes. It is also when the Premier League plays a full round, marked by high TV ratings and full stadiums. This year, however, only one game is scheduled for the day. It’s the match between Manchester United and Newcastle, for the 18th round.
The reason is something commonly repeated in Brazil as a challenge: the calendar. The Premier League points to the expansion of European competitions as responsible. “This meant that the Premier League now has 33 weekly rounds – less than in previous seasons, despite being a competition with 380 games since 1995,” the league announced.
Premier League will have Boxing Day with just one game. Photo: Adam Davy/AP
“As in previous years, and in line with our commitment to the clubs, special measures were taken to allow a longer interval between games played during the festive period”, he explained.
The rest period between the 18th, 19th and 20th rounds has been extended to ensure that no club plays less than 60 hours after another game. It is expected that the date will resume tradition in 2026, as Boxing Day will fall on a Saturday.
After the Second World War, there were only five years without football on Boxing Day. It was in the 1948, 1954, 1965, 1971 and 1976 championships.
In the 2014/15 season, Boxing Day was also on a Friday. That year, the date had a full round, with 10 games. Two days later, on Sunday, there were nine, with one match on Monday.
The EFL Championship, the English second division, will have the full round this Boxing Day. There are 12 games, as the tournament has 24 teams.
Check out the games from the 18th round of the Premier League
December 26th (Boxing Day)
- Manchester United x Newcastle
December 27th (Saturday)
- Nottingham Forest x Manchester City
- Arsenal x Brighton
- Brentford x Bournemouth
- Burnleyx Everton
- Liverpool x Wolverhampton
- West Ham x Fulham
- Chelsea x Aston Villa
December 28th (Sunday)
- Sunderland x Leeds
- Crystal Palace x Tottenham
Check out the games from the full boxing day round of the EFL Championship
- Birmingham x Derby County
- Millwall x Ipswitch Town
- Coventry City x Swansea
- Leicester x Watford
- Middlesbrough x Blackburn
- Norwich x Charlton
- Oxford United x Southampton
- Portsmouth x Queens Park Rangers
- Sheffield Wednesday x Hull City
- Stoke City x Preston North End
- West Bromwich Albion x Bristol City
- Wrexham United x Sheffield United
