Boxing Day is the day after Christmas, a unique and cherished occasion celebrated in many countries. In the U.S., it’s typically a time to return to work or recover from last night’s figgy pudding. But for soccer fans, the day is synonymous with Premier League football.
For over a century, top-tier English football has graced the pitches on December 26. While we won’t have the typical wall-to-wall EPL action on Boxing Day 2025, tradition stays alive with a marquee standalone clash at Old Trafford.
USA Network will cover that Man United–Newcastle matchup, followed by a massive slate of nine games on Saturday and Sunday. And if you crave more immediate action, Paramount+ has you covered with 12 EFL Championship matches streaming live on Boxing Day itself. Keep reading for the full holiday schedule and the best ways to tune in.
What channels have Premier League games on Boxing Day?
You can watch this season’s Premier League Boxing Day game on USA Network. The rest of the weekend will feature matches across USA Network, NBC, and Peacock. Additionally, NBC Sports will present select matchups with Spanish-language commentary on UNIVERSO and Telemundo.
Pro tip: The EFL Championship will have an entire matchday on Boxing Day this year. Each of those games will stream on Paramount+, with Preston vs. Stoke City also airing on CBS Sports Network.
Premier League on Boxing Day TV schedule
Much like football on Thanksgiving and the NBA on Christmas Day, the Premier League is noteworthy for its Premier League fixtures. This year, however, the league has reduced the Boxing Day slate to a single match to ease fixture congestion.
The good news? That single match is a heavyweight tilt between Manchester United and Newcastle United. Because it’s the only game in town, all eyes will be on Old Trafford for the 3:00 p.m. ET kickoff.
In the table below, I’ve highlighted the full “Boxing Day Weekend” schedule so you can plan your marathon from Friday through Sunday.
| Match | Day | Time (ET) | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newcastle United at Manchester United | Friday, Dec. 26 | 3:00 p.m. | USA Network |
| Manchester City at Nottingham Forest | Saturday, Dec. 27 | 7:30 a.m. | USA Network |
| Brighton & Hove Albion at Arsenal | Saturday, Dec. 27 | 10:00 a.m. | USA Network, UNIVERSO |
| Bournemouth at Brentford | Saturday, Dec. 27 | 10:00 a.m. | Peacock |
| Everton at Burnley | Saturday, Dec. 27 | 10:00 a.m. | Peacock |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers at Liverpool | Saturday, Dec. 27 | 10:00 a.m. | Peacock, NBCSN |
| Fulham at West Ham United | Saturday, Dec. 27 | 10:00 a.m. | Peacock |
| Aston Villa at Chelsea | Saturday, Dec. 27 | 12:30 p.m. | NBC, Peacock, UNIVERSO |
| Leeds United at Sunderland | Sunday, Dec. 28 | 9:00 a.m. | USA Network |
| Tottenham Hotspur at Crystal Palace | Sunday, Dec. 28 | 11:30 a.m. | USA Network, Telemundo |
Data effective as of post date.
Best Premier League on Boxing Day TV plans
For budget-conscious fans focused on the marquee Manchester United vs. Newcastle United clash, Sling TV is your best viewing option. The Sling Blue plan ($45.99/mo.) is the most affordable way to get USA Network, ensuring you catch the only true Boxing Day EPL fixture live without paying for channels you don’t need. It’s a lean subscription for those who just want to tune in for the main event at Old Trafford.
If you want a complete sports package for the entire holiday weekend and beyond, Hulu + Live TV is my top overall recommendation for soccer. It carries USA Network and NBC for the Friday and Sunday games, but its real value lies in the extras. It includes unlimited DVR storage and complementary access to ESPN Unlimited. This is crucial for watching La Liga and Bundesliga action when those leagues return from their winter breaks in January.
Finally, you can’t ignore the standalone streaming apps. A subscription to Peacock remains essential if you want to watch the exclusive matches airing on Saturday. And for the true football fanatics who want action from dawn till dusk, Paramount+ is the only place to stream the entire 12-match EFL Championship slate on Boxing Day.
How to watch the Premier League on Boxing Day for free
With the Premier League’s Boxing Day games often airing on USA Network and streaming on Peacock, there isn’t a convenient way to catch every match for free. Still, you can watch the USA Network games by signing up for a free streaming trial.
DIRECTV offers a five-day free trial and includes USA Network in its base plans. If you prefer Spanish-language coverage, the live TV streaming service also carries UNIVERSO and Telemundo in its Latino TV packages.
Premier League on Boxing Day FAQ
Are there Premier League games on Boxing Day?
Yes, there's one Premier League game scheduled for Boxing Day 2025. Despite it being only one match, it continues a long tradition of English top-flight football games on December 26—dating back to 1888.
Is the Premier League on US TV on Boxing Day?
Yes, the Manchester United vs. Newcastle United match will air live in the U.S. at 3:00 p.m. ET on USA Network.
Why is there only one game on Boxing Day this year?
Expanded European competitions and a mandatory 60-hour player rest rule forced the league to push most fixtures to Dec. 27. Fortunately, the Premier League has confirmed that a full slate of Boxing Day games will return next season.
Why you should trust us
Our CableTV.com Sports Editor, Taylor Kujawa, researched the latest Premier League schedule to find the best ways to watch the league’s Boxing Day matchups. Taylor also evaluated streaming options for the EFL Championship to provide a solution for fans craving a more robust holiday TV marathon. Then, he determined our provider recommendations based on channel lineup, pricing, and overall sports value.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
