The Premier League have explained why Newcastle United’s trip to Manchester United will be the only game played on Boxing Day.
Boxing Day football is a tradition in British football but there has been a sweeping change this season.
Initially, no games were scheduled to take place on December 26 due to the fact it falls on a Friday this year.
The schedule was heavily weighted towards the weekend of Saturday, December 27, 2025 to Sunday, December 28, 2025.
However, on Friday, the Premier League confirmed Newcastle’s trip to Old Trafford would be moved to Boxing Day. It will be played at 8pm GMT at Old Trafford on Friday, December 26, 2025.
A statement has confirmed why.
European club expansion has caused Premier League’s Boxing Day schedule to change
The Premier League’s official website carried the statement on Friday.
It claimed that due to the expansion of various European club competitions, the Premier League have fewer weekends to work with.
As such, they need to afford their clubs time to rest and recover between matches over the busy festive period. Next season, however, will see the return of the famous Boxing Day schedule.
The statement read: “The Premier League would like to acknowledge the circumstances that have led to a reduced number of matches on Boxing Day this season – impacting an important tradition in English football.
“There are now several challenges to Premier League fixture scheduling rooted in the expansion of European club competitions – which led to a revision of our domestic calendar ahead of last season, including changes to the FA Cup. 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.
“As with previous years, and in keeping with our commitment to clubs, special arrangements have been made to allow more time between games played across the festive period. This will allow greater time for players to recover with the rest periods between rounds 18, 19 and 20 being increased to ensure that no club plays within 60 hours of another match.
Newcastle United’s festive fixture schedule in full
Newcastle United’s fixture list has now been confirmed over the festive period.
It all begins with a home game against Chelsea on Saturday, 20 December, 2025.
Their trip to Old Trafford comes six days later, while Eddie Howe will also take his side to former club Burnley on Tuesday, 30th December, 2025.
That will be their final game of 2025 before they begin 2026 with a home against Crystal Palace on Tuesday, 4 January, 2026.
Newcastle then play Leeds United at home on Wednesday, 7 January, 2026.
All four of the games will be shown live on Sky Sports.
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