Christmas is getting closer, which means there is plenty of football to watch, play and enjoy over the festive season.
From Premier League and Champions League matches to Boxing Day football and the FA Cup in January, there is something for every football fan.
If you are planning what to watch or what to do over the Christmas break, here are some of the football matches and events to look out for.
1. Boxing Day Football Is Back
One of the best things about Christmas for football fans is that Boxing Day football is back.
On 26 December, the Premier League will have a number of matches to watch, including:
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Aston Villa vs Leeds United
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Hull City vs Liverpool
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Newcastle United vs Manchester City
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Tottenham Hotspur vs AFC Bournemouth
There are also more matches on 27 December, including Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace vs Arsenal. Check out the full festive fixture list on Sky Sports.
So after Christmas dinner, why not get comfortable, turn on the football and enjoy some Boxing Day action?
2. Big Matches to Watch Over Christmas
There are also some big matches to watch before and during the Christmas period.
Some of the main fixtures include:
Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal – 5 December
The North London derby is always an interesting match to watch, with both teams looking to get one over their local rivals.
Arsenal vs Manchester United – 19 December
A big Premier League match just before Christmas, and one that could be worth watching if you follow either team.
Barcelona vs Manchester City – 8 December
Two big European clubs meet in the Champions League.
Arsenal vs Real Madrid – 9 December
Another big Champions League match, with Arsenal taking on Real Madrid.
There are also some big matches in November, including Liverpool vs Manchester United on 22 November and Arsenal vs Manchester City on 29 November.
If you are a football fan, there is plenty to watch before Christmas arrives.
3. Make Christmas More Fun With Football at Home
Christmas is a time to enjoy yourself, especially when it comes to Christmas food. But that doesn't mean you need to stop being active for the whole festive season.
If you are going to enjoy more food than usual, try to balance it with some football and exercise. You don't need to follow a strict training plan over Christmas. Even a short football session can help you stay active and keep moving.
If you have some space at home, get the football out and spend some time practising your skills. You could work on your shooting, passing and ball control, or make it more fun by getting your family and friends involved.
Here are a few football activities you can try this Christmas:
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Christmas penalty shootout: Set up a goal and let everyone take five penalties. Keep the score and see who wins.
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Challenge the family: Have a shooting, passing or ball control challenge and see who can get the highest score. You could even challenge the parents and see if they can beat the children!
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Train with a friend: Invite a friend or another family member over and have a short training session together. Practise passing, shooting and different football skills.
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Create a mini tournament: Split your family or friends into small teams and have a mini football tournament.
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Football target challenge: Set up targets in your goal and give each one a different number of points. Take turns shooting and see who can get the highest score.
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Crossbar challenge: Take turns trying to hit the crossbar and see who can do it first.
The main thing is to enjoy your Christmas food, but don't forget to keep yourself active too. Finding the right balance means you can enjoy the festive season, spend time with your family and friends, and still keep football part of your Christmas.
4. Football to Watch Between Christmas and New Year
Boxing Day is not the end of the festive football.
The Premier League schedule continues through the end of December and into January, so there are plenty more matches to watch.
On 29 December, there are matches including Everton vs Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur vs Brighton.
Then on 30 December, you can watch Aston Villa vs Liverpool, Fulham vs Arsenal and Manchester United vs Sunderland.
And then it is straight into the New Year with more Premier League football.
On 1 January, Leeds United play Everton, followed by more matches on 2 and 3 January.
Some of the matches to look out for include:
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Arsenal vs Ipswich – 2 January
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Liverpool vs Coventry – 2 January
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Manchester City vs Tottenham – 3 January
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Chelsea vs Newcastle – 3 January
So if you are looking for something to watch during the Christmas and New Year break, you won't be short of football.
5. Don't Forget the FA Cup
The football doesn't stop in January either.
The FA Cup Third Round takes place in January, bringing more clubs into the competition and giving fans the chance to see some interesting match-ups.
The FA Cup is always one to keep an eye on because you never know when a smaller club could cause an upset.
If you enjoy watching different clubs and competitions, make sure you check the FA Cup fixtures after Christmas.
6. Get Your Football Setup Ready Before Christmas
If you are planning to spend more time playing football during the Christmas break, now is a good time to get your football setup ready.
Whether you want to work on your shooting, passing, ball control or other football skills, having the right equipment at home can make training easier.
You can set up a simple training area with a goal, rebounder or skills trainer and create your own challenges to work on throughout the holidays.
If you are still looking for a football gift this Christmas, you can also check out our Christmas gift ideas for different budgets. From smaller football gifts to bigger training equipment, there are plenty of options depending on how much you want to spend.
And if you are ready to start your Christmas shopping, check out our Christmas Deals for goals, rebounders and football training equipment.
Don't wait until the December rush. Get your football setup ready before Christmas and make the most of the Christmas break.
🎅 Keep Playing This Christmas
There is a lot of football to watch over Christmas, but you can also make time to play.
Get the family involved, challenge your friends, practise your skills and enjoy the football together.
