Boxing Day Premier League After 2022 World Cup
The 2022 FIFA World Cup is set to be held in Qatar, and is scheduled to start on 21 November 2022 and end on 18 December 2022. The 18th December is Boxing Day, traditionally a holiday in the United Kingdom. As the World Cup final occurs on this day, English Premier League (EPL) matches on Boxing Day are expected to be shifted.
Confirmed Matches
It has been confirmed that there will be six matches taking place in the Premier League post-World Cup, which are as follows:
- Manchester City Vs Liverpool
- Manchester United Vs Arsenal
- Tottenham Hotspur Vs Chelsea
- Brighton & Hove Albion Vs Southampton
- Leicester City Vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Aston Villa Vs West Ham United
Changes to the Fixture Schedule
Due to the World Cup creating a unique situation, several changes have been made to the fixture schedule. The Boxing Day matches will take place on December 26th, which is two days after Boxing Day. This delay is to allow teams to properly rest, recuperate and prepare for their next matches.
Scheduling Concerns
Due to the scheduling changes and potential for disruption, many fans have expressed their concerns. They are worried that teams encountered health problems and fatigue due to the back-to-back games, however the Premier League has currently not made any changes to their scheduling.
The Final Word
The 2022 Qatar World Cup is set to be an exciting event, but as with all major sporting events, there are repercussions and scheduling changes that need to be made. The Premier League is currently doing their utmost to satisfy the needs of players, clubs and fans and have made changes to their fixtures to accommodate the World Cup. It will be interesting to see the effect the changes have when the time comes.
