Boxing Day 2025: Check the history and sporting events to watch the day after Christmas!
December 26th features football matches and basketball games for sports fans in a festive mood!
December 26th is known in English-speaking countries as Boxing Day. The first day after Christmas has other reasons for existing, but it has found an important tradition in sports, especially in the United Kingdom. Thus, in this area, it is also possible to take advantage of the day after the holiday with sports betting.
In this guide, understand what Boxing Day is, how it came to football, and how you can follow the day's matches, taking the opportunity to have fun with your predictions. Check it out!
What is Boxing Day?
Boxing Day originated in the United Kingdom and spread to the countries that are part of the Commonwealth. Initially, December 26th was associated with a bank holiday since the 19th century, and the public sector, as well as a religious holiday, associated with Saint Stephen.
Over time, it became the day to give gifts to those less fortunate and also the first possible day to exchange items received at Christmas in stores. Incredibly, the tradition of football on December 26th is even older than the public holiday or shopping day.
It has been over 160 years since the first time the day after Christmas saw football matches. It was in 1860 when Sheffield Football Club, founded in 1857, finally had its first opponent, Hallam Football Club, on December 26th, with the older team winning 2-0.
For many years, all teams played on Boxing Day in UK football, across all divisions. In 2025, however, due to a necessary calendar adjustment, the Premier League will have only one game, and the Scottish Premiership will have no matches.
But football fans don't need to be disappointed. There's still plenty of football in the UK to watch this Boxing Day. The EFL (England's second division), the Cymru Premier (Welsh Championship), and the NIFL Premiership (Northern Ireland Championship) have full rounds to fill the day with football action!
Boxing Day 2025 Games
This season, the Premier League has only one game on Boxing Day. At 8pm (local time - GMT+0), this Friday (26), Manchester City hosts Newcastle at Old Trafford stadium, for the 18th round of the competition. The odds point to a balanced match, with 2.46 for the home team's victory, 2.7 for the visitors, and a draw at 3.6.
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The only match this year was due to changes across the European calendar. To keep the tradition alive, the Premier League promises a full round on Boxing Day 2026. Especially since the day will fall on a Saturday.
As there are other tournaments on British soil, you can enjoy a full day of football with different championships across the country that originated the sport. The EFL, the country's second division, for example, will have a full round, with matches starting at 12:30 pm (GMT+0).
The Cymru Premier, which is the Welsh Championship, has five of the six games of the round scheduled for Boxing Day 2025, starting at 12 pm (GMT+0). The matches are part of the 20th round, with the complementary game on Saturday (27).
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Another country that is part of the United Kingdom with a full round on December 26 is Northern Ireland. The NIFL Premiership, the Northern Irish Football Championship, has six games, starting at 11 am (GMT+0).
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If football isn't enough, the night of December 26th features another sport ready to bring great plays to fans: basketball. The NBA already has traditional rounds on Christmas Day and also right after. This season, the best basketball in the world has nine games scheduled, starting at 7 PM (Eastern Time), for fans to stay glued to the screen to see incredible plays.
At 7 PM, the Miami Heat visits the Atlanta Hawks, while the Orlando Magic hosts the Charlotte Hornets. Meanwhile, the Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors face off in Washington, D.C., with the Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics in Indianapolis.
At 7:30 PM (Eastern Time), it's the Philadelphia 76ers' turn to visit the Chicago Bulls. At 8 PM, two more games: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Milwaukee Bucks and New Orleans Pelicans vs. Phoenix Suns. Then, at 9:30 PM, the Utah Jazz hosts the Detroit Pistons. Closing out Boxing Day 2025, at 10 PM, the Portland Trail Blazers face the LA Clippers at home.
Bet on Boxing Day 2025 games at Blaze
Did you see that 2025 still has several sports to follow before the end of the year? Take the opportunity to have fun with sports betting. All, of course, with responsibility and awareness.
Betting is only fun as long as it's healthy. Use only funds intended for this type of entertainment. After all, sports betting is a leisure activity, never an investment. Responsible Gaming is your greatest ally when making your predictions.
Bet on Boxing Day 2025 games here at Blaze and see highlights from various sports!