Football. Food. Family. In that order.
Christmas is much more than pretending you’re pleased with your auntie’s present and enjoying drunken family members you see twice a year engage in a verbal dispute during a game of charades. The camaraderie’s great, of course, and the food is what many look forward to, but deep down, the festive period is all about the football.
While Europe’s tendency to have some time off at the end of the year means fixtures from the continent’s top leagues arrive at a less relentless rate, English football supporters are set to be treated to another barrage of festive action.
Here are all the notable Christmas and New Year football fixtures in the 2023/24 season.
Football to watch over Christmas and New Year – 2023/24
Premier League festive fixtures
|
Date / Kick-off Time (GMT) |
Fixture |
UK TV channel and live stream |
|---|---|---|
|
21/12/23 / 20:00 |
Crystal Palace vs Brighton |
Sky Sports Main Event |
|
22/12/23 / 20:00 |
Aston Villa vs Sheffield United |
Sky Sports Main Event |
|
23/12/23 / 12:30 |
West Ham vs Manchester United |
TNT Sports 1 |
|
23/12/23 / 15:00 |
Fulham vs Burnley |
Not available |
|
23/12/23 / 15:00 |
Luton Town vs Newcastle |
Not available |
|
23/12/23 / 15:00 |
Nottingham Forest vs Bournemouth |
Not available |
|
23/12/23 / 15:00 |
Tottenham vs Everton |
Not available |
|
23/12/23 / 17:30 |
Liverpool vs Arsenal |
Sky Sports Main Event |
|
24/12/23 / 13:00 |
Wolves vs Chelsea |
Sky Sports Main Event |
|
26/12/23 / 12:30 |
Newcastle vs Nottingham Forest |
Prime Video |
|
26/12/23 / 15:00 |
Bournemouth vs Fulham |
Prime Video |
|
26/12/23 / 15:00 |
Sheffield United vs Luton Town |
Prime Video |
|
26/12/23 / 17:30 |
Burnley vs Liverpool |
Prime Video |
|
26/12/23 / 20:00 |
Manchester United vs Aston Villa |
Prime Video |
|
27/12/23 / 19:30 |
Brentford vs Wolves |
Prime Video |
|
27/12/23 / 19:30 |
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace |
Prime Video |
|
27/12/23 / 20:15 |
Everton vs Manchester City |
Prime Video |
|
28/12/23 / 19:30 |
Brighton vs Tottenham |
Prime Video |
|
28/12/23 / 20:15 |
Arsenal vs West Ham |
Prime Video |
|
30/12/23 / 12:30 |
Luton Town vs Chelsea |
TNT Sports 1 |
|
30/12/23 / 15:00 |
Aston Villa vs Burnley |
Not available |
|
30/12/23 / 15:00 |
Crystal Palace vs Brentford |
Not available |
|
30/12/23 / 15:00 |
Manchester City vs Sheffield United |
Not available |
|
30/12/23 / 15:00 |
Wolves vs Everton |
Not available |
|
30/12/23 / 17:30 |
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United |
Sky Sports Main Event |
|
31/12/23 / 14:00 |
Fulham vs Arsenal |
Sky Sports Main Event |
|
31/12/23 / 14:00 |
Tottenham vs Bournemouth |
Not available |
|
01/01/24 / 20:00 |
Liverpool vs Newcastle |
Sky Sports Main Event |
|
02/01/24 / 19:30 |
West Ham vs Brighton |
Sky Sports Main Event |
Manchester City’s presence in the Club World Cup means they’ll be absent for the first round of festive Premier League fixtures. That gameweek sees title rivals Liverpool and Arsenal face off at Anfield, while Wolves also host Chelsea in the first Christmas Eve fixture in almost 30 years.
The league’s Boxing Day coverage, which includes six games, finishes with the biggest game of the day when Aston Villa visit Manchester United. From that point onwards, there is at least one Premier League fixture every day until 2 January excluding 29 December.
Championship festive fixtures
|
Date / Kick-off Time (GMT) |
Fixture |
UK TV channel and live stream |
|---|---|---|
|
22/12/23 / 19:45 |
Bristol City vs Hull City |
Not available |
|
22/12/23 / 19:45 |
Swansea City vs Preston |
Not available |
|
23/12/23 / 12:30 |
Leeds United vs Ipswich Town |
Sky Sports Football |
|
23/12/23 / 15:00 |
Blackburn Rovers vs Watford |
Not available |
|
23/12/23 / 15:00 |
Leicester City vs Rotherham |
Not available |
|
23/12/23 / 15:00 |
Middlesbrough vs West Brom |
Not available |
|
23/12/23 / 15:00 |
Norwich City vs Huddersfield Town |
Not available |
|
23/12/23 / 15:00 |
Plymouth Argyle vs Birmingham |
Not available |
|
23/12/23 / 15:00 |
QPR vs Southampton |
Not available |
|
23/12/23 / 15:00 |
Sheffield Wednesday vs Cardiff City |
Not available |
|
23/12/23 / 15:00 |
Stoke City vs Millwall |
Not available |
|
23/12/23 / 15:00 |
Sunderland vs Coventry City |
Not available |
|
26/12/23 / 12:30 |
Preston vs Leeds United |
Sky Sports Football |
|
26/12/23 / 13:00 |
Millwall vs QPR |
Not available |
|
26/12/23 / 15:00 |
Cardiff City vs Plymouth Argyle |
Not available |
|
26/12/23 / 15:00 |
Coventry City vs Sheffield Wednesday |
Not available |
|
26/12/23 / 15:00 |
Huddersfield Town vs Blackburn Rovers |
Not available |
|
26/12/23 / 15:00 |
Hull City vs Sunderland |
Not available |
|
26/12/23 / 15:00 |
Rotherham vs Middlesbrough |
Not available |
|
26/12/23 / 15:00 |
Southampton vs Swansea City |
Not available |
|
26/12/23 / 15:00 |
Watford vs Bristol City |
Not available |
|
26/12/23 / 15:00 |
West Brom vs Norwich City |
Not available |
|
26/12/23 / 17:15 |
Birmingham vs Stoke City |
Sky Sports Football |
|
26/12/23 / 19:45 |
Ipswich Town vs Leicester City |
Sky Sports Football |
|
29/12/23 / 18:00 |
Southampton vs Plymouth Argyle |
Sky Sports Football |
|
29/12/23 / 19:45 |
Birmingham vs Bristol City |
Not available |
|
29/12/23 / 19:45 |
Cardiff City vs Leicester City |
Not available |
|
29/12/23 / 19:45 |
Coventry City vs Swansea City |
Not available |
|
29/12/23 / 19:45 |
Huddersfield Town vs Middlesbrough |
Not available |
|
29/12/23 / 19:45 |
Hull City vs Blackburn Rovers |
Not available |
|
29/12/23 / 19:45 |
Ipswich Town vs QPR |
Not available |
|
29/12/23 / 19:45 |
Millwall vs Norwich City |
Not available |
|
29/12/23 / 19:45 |
Preston vs Sheffield Wednesday |
Not available |
|
29/12/23 / 19:45 |
Rotherham vs Sunderland |
Not available |
|
29/12/23 / 19:45 |
Watford vs Stoke City |
Not available |
|
29/12/23 / 20:15 |
West Brom vs Leeds United |
Sky Sports Football |
|
01/01/24 / 12:30 |
Sunderland vs Preston |
Sky Sports Football |
|
01/01/24 / 15:00 |
Blackburn Rovers vs Rotherham |
Not available |
|
01/01/24 / 15:00 |
Bristol City vs Millwall |
Not available |
|
01/01/24 / 15:00 |
Leeds United vs Birmingham |
Not available |
|
01/01/24 / 15:00 |
Leicester City vs Huddersfield Town |
Not available |
|
01/01/24 / 15:00 |
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City |
Not available |
|
01/01/24 / 15:00 |
Norwich City vs Southampton |
Not available |
|
01/01/24 / 15:00 |
Plymouth Argyle vs Watford |
Not available |
|
01/01/24 / 15:00 |
QPR vs Cardiff City |
Not available |
|
01/01/24 / 15:00 |
Stoke City vs Ipswich Town |
Not available |
|
01/01/24 / 15:00 |
Swansea vs West Brom |
Not available |
|
01/01/24 / 17:30 |
Sheffield Wednesday vs Hull City |
Sky Sports Football |
Championship lovers are used to the hectic nature of the festive calendar and there will be four rounds of action to enjoy this time around. There’s a full cohort of fixtures leading up to Christmas, while every team is in action on Boxing Day.
Another set of games arrives in midweek before another mammoth Championship offering on New Year’s Day.
Carabao Cup quarter-final fixtures
|
Date / Kick-off Time (GMT) |
Fixture |
UK TV channel and live stream |
|---|---|---|
|
19/12/23 / 19:45 |
Everton vs Fulham |
Not available |
|
19/12/23 / 19:45 |
Port Vale vs Middlesbrough |
Not available |
|
19/12/23 / 20:00 |
Chelsea vs Newcastle |
Sky Sports Main Event |
|
20/12/23 / 20:00 |
Liverpool vs West Ham |
Sky Sports Main Event |
The Carabao Cup quarter-finals will take place the week before Christmas. We’re guaranteed to see one EFL side in the last four as Port Vale and Middlesbrough collide, while the other three ties are all-Premier League affairs.
Ligue 1 festive fixtures
|
Date / Kick-off Time (GMT) |
Fixture |
UK TV channel and live stream |
|---|---|---|
|
20/12/23 / 20:00 |
Clermont Foot vs Rennes |
TBC |
|
20/12/23 / 20:00 |
Montpellier vs Marseille |
TBC |
|
20/12/23 / 20:00 |
Brest vs Lorient |
TBC |
|
20/12/23 / 20:00 |
PSG vs Metz |
TBC |
|
20/12/23 / 20:00 |
Toulouse vs Monaco |
TBC |
|
20/12/23 / 20:00 |
Lyon vs Nantes |
TBC |
|
20/12/23 / 20:00 |
Reims vs Le Havre |
TBC |
|
20/12/23 / 20:00 |
Strasbourg vs Lille |
TBC |
|
20/12/23 / 20:00 |
Nice vs Lens |
TBC |
There will be a Ligue 1 hiatus over Christmas, with the league enjoying a three-week break after its final matchday in December.
The standout fixture sees the impressive Nice take on Lens, who finished second in Ligue 1 last season. Paris Saint-Germain should conclude 2023 with a victory at home to Metz.
*Television scheduling is yet to be confirmed but Ligue 1 football is shown on TNT Sports.
Bundesliga festive fixtures
|
Date/Kick-off Time (GMT) |
Fixture |
UK TV channel and live stream |
|---|---|---|
|
20/12/23 / TBC |
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Borussia Monchengladbach |
TBC |
|
20/12/23 / TBC |
Werder Bremen vs RB Leipzig |
TBC |
|
20/12/23 / TBC |
Heidenheim vs SC Freiburg |
TBC |
|
20/12/23 / TBC |
Borussia Dortmund vs Mainz |
TBC |
|
20/12/23 / TBC |
Stuttgart vs Augsburg |
TBC |
|
20/12/23 / TBC |
Bayer Leverkusen vs Vfl Bochum |
TBC |
|
20/12/23 / TBC |
Union Berlin vs FC Koln |
TBC |
|
20/12/23 / TBC |
Hoffenheim vs Darmstadt |
TBC |
|
20/12/23 / TBC |
Wolfsburg vs Bayern Munich |
TBC |
*fixture dates are scheduled to change
Who knows how many goals Harry Kane will be on by the time the Bundesliga’s Hinrunde concludes the week before Christmas. The Englishman may have already broken Robert Lewandowski’s single-season goal record. Nevertheless, Bayern wrap up 2023 with a tricky away clash at Wolfsburg.
Fellow title rivals Bayer Leverkusen take on the lowly VfL Bochum, while Borussia Dortmund host Mainz.
*Television scheduling is yet to be confirmed but Bundesliga football is shown on Sky Sports.
Serie A festive fixtures
|
Date/Kick-off Time (GMT) |
Fixture |
UK TV channel and live stream |
|---|---|---|
|
22/12/23 / 17:30 |
Sassuolo vs Genoa |
TBC |
|
22/12/23 / 17:30 |
Empoli vs Lazio |
TBC |
|
22/12/13 / 19:45 |
Monza vs Fiorentina |
TBC |
|
22/12/13 / 19:45 |
Salernitana vs Milan |
TBC |
|
23/12/23 / 11:30 |
Frosinone vs Juventus |
TBC |
|
23/12/23 / 14:00 |
Bologna vs Atalanta |
TBC |
|
23/12/23 / 14:00 |
Torino vs Udinese |
TBC |
|
23/12/23 / 17:00 |
Hellas Verona vs Cagliari |
TBC |
|
23/12/23 / 17:00 |
Inter vs Lecce |
TBC |
|
23/12/23 / 19:45 |
Roma vs Napoli |
TBC |
|
29/12/23 / 17:30 |
Napoli vs Monza |
TBC |
|
29/12/23 / 17:30 |
Fiorentina vs Torino |
TBC |
|
29/12/23 / 19:45 |
Genoa vs Inter |
TBC |
|
29/12/23 / 19:45 |
Lazio vs Frosinone |
TBC |
|
30/12/23 / 11:30 |
Atalanta vs Lecce |
TBC |
|
30/12/23 / 14:00 |
Udinese vs Bologna |
TBC |
|
30/12/23 / 14:00 |
Cagliari vs Empoli |
TBC |
|
30/12/23 / 17:00 |
Hellas Verona vs Salernitana |
TBC |
|
30/12/23 / 17:00 |
Milan vs Sassuolo |
TBC |
|
30/12/23 / 19:45 |
Juventus vs Roma |
TBC |
It’s all go in Italy over the festive period with calcio enjoyers getting their fix of Serie A to close out the calendar year. Two full matchdays have been scheduled between 22 and 30 December, with both rounds boasting a standout fixture well worth tuning into.
While Roma perhaps haven’t been the most thrilling watch this season, there’s bound to be drama when Jose Mourinho’s side take on Scudetto holders Napoli and Juventus to finish 2023.
*Television scheduling is yet to be confirmed but Serie A football is shown on TNT Sports.
Coppa Italia round of 16 fixtures
|
Date/Kick-off Time (GMT) |
Fixture |
UK TV channel and live stream |
|---|---|---|
|
19/12/23 / 20:00 |
Napoli vs Frosinone |
TBC |
|
20/12/23 / 20:00 |
Inter vs Bologna |
TBC |
|
02/01/24 / 20:00 |
Milan vs Cagliari |
TBC |
|
03/01/24 / 17:00 |
Atalanta vs Sassuolo |
TBC |
|
03/01/24 / 20:00 |
Roma vs Cremonese |
TBC |
|
04/01/24 / 20:00 |
Juventus vs Salernitana |
TBC |
Calcio’s big boys enter the Coppa Italia in the round of 16, with Lazio and Fiorentina hosting their cup ties at the start of December. Napoli and Inter are both in action before Christmas, while the remainder of the ties are scheduled for the new year.
*Television scheduling is yet to be confirmed but Coppa Italia football is shown on Viaplay Sports.
La Liga festive fixtures
|
Date/Kick-off Time (GMT) |
Fixture |
UK TV channel and live stream |
|---|---|---|
|
20/12/23 / TBC |
Athletic Club vs Las Palmas |
TBC |
|
20/12/23 / TBC |
Barcelona vs Almeria |
TBC |
|
20/12/23 / TBC |
Alaves vs Real Madrid |
TBC |
|
20/12/23 / TBC |
Granada vs Sevilla |
TBC |
|
20/12/23 / TBC |
Mallorca vs Osasuna |
TBC |
|
20/12/23 / TBC |
Atletico Madrid vs Getafe |
TBC |
|
20/12/23 / TBC |
Real Betis vs Girona |
TBC |
|
20/12/23 / TBC |
Rayo Vallecano vs Valencia |
TBC |
|
20/12/23 / TBC |
Villarreal vs Celta Vigo |
TBC |
|
20/12/23 / TBC |
Cadiz vs Real Sociedad |
TBC |
|
23/12/12 / 15:15 |
Atletico Madrid vs Sevilla |
TBC |
|
03/01/23 / TBC |
Real Madrid vs Mallorca |
TBC |
|
03/01/23 / TBC |
Sevilla vs Athletic Club |
TBC |
|
03/01/23 / TBC |
Granada vs Cadiz |
TBC |
|
03/01/23 / TBC |
Valencia vs Villarreal |
TBC |
|
03/01/23 / TBC |
Las Palmas vs Barcelona |
TBC |
|
03/01/23 / TBC |
Getafe vs Rayo Vallecano |
TBC |
|
03/01/23 / TBC |
Girona vs Atletico Madrid |
TBC |
|
03/01/23 / TBC |
Osasuna vs Almeria |
TBC |
|
03/01/23 / TBC |
Celta Vigo vs Real Betis |
TBC |
|
03/01/23 / TBC |
Real Sociedad vs Alaves |
TBC |
*fixture dates are scheduled to change
There will be a mini-break in La Liga over Christmas but there are still two matchdays to enjoy over the festive and New Year period. There’s also a bonus fixture on 23 December as Champions League hopefuls Atletico Madrid and Sevilla clash in the capital.
Real Madrid and Barcelona will both be expected to claim maximum points from their listed fixtures above.
*Television scheduling is yet to be confirmed but La Liga football is shown on LaLigaTV and Viaplay Sports.
Club World Cup fixtures
|
Date/Kick-off Time |
Fixture |
UK TV channel and live stream |
|---|---|---|
|
18/12/23 / 18:00 |
Fluminense vs Ah Ahly or Al Ittihad/Auckland City |
Not available |
|
19/12/23 / 18:00 |
Club Leon/Urawa Reds vs Manchester City |
TBC |
|
22/12/23 / 14:30 |
Third-place play-off |
TBC |
|
22/12/23 / 18:00 |
Final |
TBC |
Manchester City will be hoping to become the latest Premier League club to win the Club World Cup in 2023. The Cityzens join the competition in the semi-finals where they’ll face either Club Leon or Urawa Reds.
Presuming they progress through that, City could take on Copa Libertadores winners Fluminense in the final on 22 December.
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