As soon as the Premier League fixtures are released in mid-June, one of the first things people check is the festive fixtures, especially the Boxing Day matches on 26 December.
Boxing Day football tickets are a UK tradition, on the schedule since the inaugural 1888/89 league season. On that day, a Wednesday in 1888, league leaders Preston North End won 5-0 away at West Brom on their way to the title.
There’s a certain magic to football at this time of year, and the day after Christmas Day, brings a big helping of football action and a family-friendly atmosphere to stadiums.
In this article we’ll help you get excited about the matches on 26 December, and help you find Premier League Boxing Day tickets, along with the EFL Championship and the Scottish Premiership.
Is there Football on Boxing Day 2024?
Yes, there’s a feast of football action on Boxing Day 2024, with eight Premier League matches, and kick-offs all spread out across the day, from 12:30 pm GMT to 8:00 pm.
Every single team in the Scottish Premiership will also be playing on Boxing Day, along with every team in the EFL Championship. So let’s take a look at the biggest fixtures.
Liverpool FC Boxing Day Tickets
Liverpool vs Leicester City - 8:00 pm, 26 December
Arne Slot’s high-flying Liverpool team hosts Leicester City in a clash between two teams in opposite situations. Famously, Slot made the best start as a new Liverpool manager in the club’s history, while Leicester are battling the drop.
The record favours the home team. Liverpool have only lost to the Foxes twice in the last 14 games, while you have to go back to 3 May 2000 for the Reds last home defeat to Leicester City. After sacking Steve Cooper and hiring Ruud van Nistelrooy, the Foxes are desperate for some stability, but will be up against it at Anfield on Boxing Day.
Buy Liverpool vs Leicester City tickets through Ticket Compare
Chelsea FC Boxing Day Tickets
Chelsea vs Fulham - 3:00 pm, 26 December
Perhaps the match of the gameweek is a West London Derby, with Chelsea hosting Fulham at Stamford Bridge. It’s a rivalry with a long history—Chelsea’s first owner founded the club when Fulham refused to move into Stamford Bridge—and a contest between two stylish teams.
After a couple of seasons of turmoil, things are looking bright for Chelsea, and this is a fixture that the Blues haven’t lost since 1979, in the old Division Two. Still, the Cottagers have the firepower to cause any team problems, and will be hyped up to grab their first league win at the Bridge in 45 years.
If you’re in search of London football tickets for Boxing Day, this is the only match taking place in the capital in England’s top two tiers on 26 December.
Don’t miss this Boxing Day clash—get Chelsea vs Fulham tickets with Ticket Compare.
Manchester City Boxing Day Tickets
Manchester City vs Everton - 12:30 pm, 26 December
Boxing Day 2024 kicks off with a match that has a one-sided recent history. For Toffees fans, the record against Manchester City is as bleak as it gets. Everton’s last win against City came back in 2017, and since then they have lost 13 and drawn just 2 matches.
Even further back, their last win away at the Etihad was 14 years ago, in 2010/11, coincidentally during the festive fixtures. All the same, Manchester City’s November form, including a run of five straight defeats, will give Sean Dyche cause for optimism.
Can the Toffees cause an upset? Be there in person with Manchester City vs Everton tickets on Boxing Day.
Premier League Boxing Day Football Tickets
Let’s round up the other exciting Boxing Day football tickets available through Ticket Compare:
Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace Tickets - 3:00 pm, 26 December
Two entertaining teams meet at the Vitality Stadium, with Crystal Palace trying to drag their way back up the table following a sticky start to the season. With Iraola’s Bournemouth you never know what you’re going to get, but it will always be exciting.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa Tickets - 3:00 pm, 26 December
The Magpies host the Villans in a match that could go either way. Things haven’t quite gone to plan in the Premier League for Eddie Howe or Unai Emery this season. However, with players like Bruno Guimarães, Anthony Gordon, Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers, both teams have the talent to turn this match.
Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Hotspur Tickets - 3:00 pm, 26 December
A real clash of styles is on the menu at the City Ground, where Nuno Espírito Santo’s tactical nuance meets Ange’s high line and high-octane football. How this match will end up is anyone’s guess—Spurs demolished Man City at the Etihad in November, but also lost to Palace and Bournemouth away.
Southampton vs West Ham United Tickets - 3:00 pm, 26 December
By the time this match takes place at St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton manager Russell Martin may be out of a job, or maybe his risky passing style will have clicked and the Saints may have picked up a couple of wins. The Hammers’ Julen Lopetegui was under similar pressure early in the season, but there have been signs of life from the Irons following a dismal start.
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Manchester United Tickets - 3:00 pm, 26 December
Wolves have won just one game in ten against Man Utd in all competitions, and face a Red Devils team that could potentially be galvanised by new boss, Ruben Amorim. The Old Gold have rebounded under Gary O’Neil, and with Matheus Cunha they have a player who can score against anyone.
Compare Premier League ticket prices now on Ticket Compare!
Who Are Arsenal Playing on Boxing Day 2024?
Strictly speaking, Arsenal are playing on Friday December 27, at 8:15 pm for broadcast reasons. The Gunners host Ipswich, who are making their first league visit to North London since 2001/02. Arsenal fans will be expecting a big win at the Emirates, but Ipswich have a good recent memory of North London following their win at Spurs in November.
Be there with Arsenal vs Ipswich Town tickets on Ticket Compare!
Earlier in the evening, the 7:30 pm kick-off on December 27 is Brighton & Hove Albion against Brentford. This will be a captivating south coast battle between two of the most innovative sides in the league. The Seagulls will have the edge at the Amex Stadium, and Brentord have only claimed one win against Brighton in the three seasons since they came up.
Don’t miss out on Brighton & Hove Albion vs Brentford tickets.
Boxing Day Football Tickets: More Big Matches!
Let’s round up some of the other noteworthy matches taking place on Boxing Day outside of the English top flight:
Sheffield United vs Burnley Tickets - 3:00 pm, 26 December
There’s a top of the table clash in the EFL Championship between Sheffield United and Burnley at Bramall Lane. These two relegated teams from last season have started brightly in the second tier and are in the leading pack for promotion.
Chris Wilder, who oversaw the greatest period in the Blades’ recent history, takes on Scott Parker, who has become a promotion specialist in the Championship, bringing Fulham up in 2020 and then Bournemouth in 2022.
Stoke City vs Leeds United Tickets - 8:00 pm, 26 December
The late kick-off in the EFL Championship pits the Potters against Daniel Farke’s Leeds United, who have been at or near the top all season. The bet365 Stadium will be up for this one, not least because Stoke defeated Leeds in this fixture in 2023/24.
The home team has made a solid start to 2024/25 and there’s a lot of excitement around the Korean creator, Bae Jun-ho, while Leeds look equipped to return to the Premier League at the second time of asking.
Heart of Midlothian vs Hibernian Tickets - 12:30, 26 December
In the Scottish Premiership there’s an Edinburgh Derby to look forward to. The 340th competitive match between Hearts and Hibs will take place at Tynecastle Park, and the stakes could not be higher.
Not only is this one of the most fiercely contested rivalries in football, but both teams are desperate for the points, rooted to the bottom of the league in 2024/25.
Celtic vs Motherwell Tickets - 3:00 pm, 26 December
The Bhoys host The Well in a match Celtic fans will be desperate to win to keep the gap above this season’s surprise package, Aberdeen.
Led by Stuart Kettlewell, Motherwell were flying in the autumn, but have come unstuck recently. Keep an eye out for exciting Well youngster, Lennon Miller, already pulling the midfield strings at 18 years of age.
St. Mirren vs Rangers Tickets - 5:30 pm, 26 December
The late kick-off in the Scottish Premiership sees Rangers make the short trip to Paisley for a match they absolutely have to win to stand any chance of hauling down Celtic in the title race.
The Gers have endured an inconsistent first half of the season, with questions surrounding embattled boss Philippe Clement. The good news for Rangers is that they haven’t lost to The Buddies since that infamous 3-2 League Cup upset in 2020/21.
So What is Boxing Day?
If you’re wondering about this celebration, Boxing Day is a public holiday in a host of English-speaking countries, including the UK, Australia, New Zealand, parts of Canada, but also Hong Kong, as a holdover from UK sovereignty.
Of course, in many other countries, particularly in Europe, 26 December is a public holiday because it’s Saint Stephen’s Day, which is traditionally the second day of Christmas.
- The name, Boxing Day comes from the mid-19th century, and refers to the tradition of servants or workers having a day off on the 26 December and being given a Christmas box with cash as an annual tip.
- While the day after Christmas being a day off isn’t exactly unique to the UK, the UK is the only country that schedules a full day of football action.
- In the 21st century, Boxing Day has found a global audience thanks to the Premier League, so many people around the world automatically associate the holiday with football.
- For decades there was also football on Christmas Day, but this was phased out, and the last match took place between Blackpool and Blackburn Rovers in 1957.
What Makes Boxing Day Football so Special?
- In 2024, Boxing Day falls on a Thursday, and many fans will be off work for another week.
- With children out of school, families will pack into stadiums, often wearing Father Christmas (or Santa Claus) hats in their team’s colours.
- Teams that normally have small crowds can expect their largest attendance of the season on this day if they’re playing at home
- Many Premier League clubs also make the day extra special, putting on themed entertainment, and selling seasonal treats not normally available on concourses, like mince pies.
- As with any long-standing tradition, people will get a warm familiar feeling about Boxing Day, and you should notice it in the stadium’s atmosphere.
- To underline that point, Boxing Day 2020 was especially tough on football fans when stadiums were empty during the Covid pandemic
Boxing Day Football Tickets: Picking the Fixtures
If you look a little closer at the fixtures you may notice that none of the teams have enormous journeys to make, apart from Aston Villa playing away at Newcastle United—the truth is every team has a long journey getting to St. James’ Park.
This is because the Boxing Day fixtures are purposely chosen to reduce journey times, on a day when public transport is reduced and can be stretched.
The roads will also have extra traffic because Boxing Day is the start of the January Sales, a major annual shopping event in the UK. So our advice is to plan your transport well in advance if you’re buying Boxing Day football tickets.
Buy Your Boxing Day Football Tickets with Ticket Compare
So that puts a bow on our parcel of Boxing Day football tickets. All of these matches are in big demand, but Ticket Compare offers availability for all matches, whether they are sold out on the primary market or not.
By Comparing a lineup of trusted secondary markets and official hospitality agents, Ticket Compare sources a wide choice of tickets for all of the top competitions involved on Boxing Day, including the Premier League, Scottish Premiership and EFL Championship.
