It is the most wonderful time of the year and there is no need for sports fans to miss out with some massive events taking place across the world, which you can also watch from the comfort of your or someone else’s living room after you’ve had your Christmas dinner.
Here’s our rundown of the sort of action you can enjoy.
A feat of NBA
There was a time when there was no live sport for us to enjoy on Christmas Day but the NBA has come to the rescue of those desperate to avoid The Sound Of Music in the afternoon.
Five successive matches are televised, starting at 5pm with Philadelphia’s visit to the New York Knicks and fans should be able to take in the LA Lakers at the Dallas Mavericks and the Milwaukee Bucks at the Boston Celtics before heading off to bed.
There will still be two more matches for the real night-owls to take in, which could be an option if you’re not working on Boxing Day.
The NFL rolls on
If action on the courts is not your thing then Christmas falling on a Sunday is good news if you like American football, as there are three live TV matches as normal.
The fixture computer has not been kind as the Miami Dolphins, who entertain the Green Bay Packers, are the only team in action who go into Week 16 with a winning record.
Fans will also get the chance to take in the Denver Broncos’ trip to Los Angeles to take on the Rams, while Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be heading to Phoenix to play the Arizona Cardinals.
The Boxing Day Test
One massive Australian Christmas tradition is the Boxing Day Test, which they will play against South Africa in Melbourne.
This year, all players will be wearing floppy hats in tribute to spin great Shane Warne, who died suddenly in 2022, as the game will be played at his home ground.
The Aussies will be hoping to make light work of the South Africans again, having won the first Test in Brisbane inside two days.
The return of the Premier League
There has been no top-flight football in England for more than a month, but now the Premier League is back, with Brentford’s home game against Tottenham kicking off a full round of fixtures that will take us from Boxing Day to Wednesday, December 28 when champions Manchester City will travel to Leeds.
Arsenal, who went into the World Cup five points clear at the top following City’s surprise home defeat to the Bees, are at home to West Ham in another London derby on Boxing Day evening.
A darting extravaganza
For many, Christmas means only one thing – the PDC World Darts Championship – and the action will return on Tuesday, December 27 following a brief break over Christmas.
Then we will be heading into the third round in the battle for the Sid Waddell Trophy, currently held by Peter ‘Snakebite’ Wright.
There really is no better way to usher in the New Year than watching all the drama at Alexandra Palace.
