Your Ultimate Christmas Sports Guide: What to Watch All Day
Christmas Day has evolved into one of the most powerful dates on the global sports calendar. While the holiday is built around tradition, family, and downtime, it has also become a prime stage for elite competition, with leagues knowing that on December 25, the world is watching.
In the United States, the spotlight shines brightest on the NFL and the NBA, two leagues that now treat Christmas not as a novelty, but as a showcase. The NFL leans into late-season tension and playoff stakes, while the NBA embraces its long-standing tradition of marquee matchups, superstars, and rivalry-driven drama.
Elsewhere, the Premier League is unusually quiet on Boxing Day this year, with just one fixture scheduled: Manchester United vs Newcastle.
From early kickoffs to primetime showdowns, Christmas Day in 2025 isn’t just about switching on the TV it’s about settling in for a full-day sporting spectacle. 365Scores: Your local Where to Watch guide.
NFL Tripleheader
NFL – What it means
The NFL Christmas Day slate in 2025 is less about playoff stakes and more about event television built around names you’ll recognise, the Cowboys and Commanders to kick things off, the Lions and Vikings in the middle window, then the Chiefs in primetime against the Broncos. It’s a day designed for casual fans to lock in for the logos, the rivalries, and the stars, Justin Jefferson vs Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Dak Prescott is having a legacy season with Dallas, even if the games themselves aren’t deciding who’s punching a ticket.
Dallas Cowboys at Washington Commanders
This one is pure pride and evaluation: Dallas has already been officially eliminated, and Washington is buried in the NFC East standings, so it’s more about finishing strong, playing spoiler, and seeing who earns roles heading into 2026.
Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings
Detroit’s playoff hopes are on life support after their heartbreaking loss against Pittsburgh, while Minnesota’s role is more spoiler than a clean postseason push. It’s desperate divisional football, not a clean “win-and-in.”
Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs
The nightcap goes to Arrowhead, and any time you’re dealing with the Chiefs in Week 17, the stakes feel automatic. However, no Mahomes, or playoff implications for the Chiefs, but they will be playing for pride, trying to break the heart of their division rival and deny them the NO. 1 seed in the AFC.
NBA Christmas Day Five-Game Showcase
NBA – What it means
For the NBA, Christmas is the league’s annual red-carpet showcase, five straight matchups built around stars and storylines: Donovan Mitchell vs Jalen Brunson (Cavs–Knicks), Victor Wembanyama vs Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Spurs–Thunder), Stephen Curry headlining Warriors–Mavericks, LeBron James and Luka Dončić sharing the Lakers spotlight against Houston, and a late-night closer featuring Anthony Edwards vs Nikola Jokić (Timberwolves–Nuggets). While it isn’t must-win basketball at this point of the season, five must-watch clashes between the league’s best and ensures a Christmas Day spectacle.
Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks
The opener is a statement game at MSG: Donovan Mitchell’s Cavs vs the 2025 NBA Cup champion Knicks, led by Jalen Brunson. (There’s also ESPN’s “Dunk the Halls” alt-cast for this one.)
San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder
Wembanyama on the holiday stage against the defending NBA champion Thunder, led by reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, basically the league’s “future vs present power” showcase.
Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors
A pure marquee-slot clash: Curry’s Warriors in the spotlight, with Dallas bringing the hype (and ESPN spotlighting the Cooper Flagg storyline).
Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers
Prime-time Hollywood: Rockets visiting the Lakers in the LeBron + Luka spotlight, with ESPN billing it as icons on the biggest regular-season stage.
Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets
Late-night stars: Anthony Edwards vs Nikola Jokić in Denver a “league-pass core” matchup getting the national holiday finish.
