Malta Sports Journalists Association step up preparations for Boxing Day tournament in aid of L-Istrina

Preparations are well underway for this year’s edition of the traditional Boxing Day Football Tournament.

The Malta Sports Journalists Association (MSJA), organisers of this annual event, have announced that the 2025 edition will once again take the form of a quadrangular tournament.

This year’s Tournament will feature teams representing the Malta Football Referees Association, Members of Parliament, TV and media personalities, and sports journalists who are members of the MSJA.

This will be the first time that TEAMmt formed of TV and media personalities, will take part in this tournament, whilst for the MP’s team it will be their second stint after their debut in this tournament last year.

Notable absentees in this year’s tournament is the selection from the Malta Football Association.

The Boxing Day football event dates back to the 1970s, when the Malta Sports Journalists Association – then known as Għaqda Kittieba Sports – invited a group of referees for a friendly football match.

The game continued to be organised for several years, and with the exception of a few interruptions, both the MSJA and the MFRA have maintained this yearly tradition.
In the 1990s.

This year’s tournament will be held at the Victor Tedesco Stadium in Ħamrun, courtesy of the Ħamrun Spartans FC committee.

As is customary, participants will pool funds together for a collective donation to Istrina, the national fundraising initiative. The general public is encouraged to attend, and since entrance will be free of charge, spectators will be invited to contribute with a donation alongside the participants.

The Boxing Day Football Tournament 2025 will take place on Friday, December 26, with the first two matches kicking off at 9am. 

H.E. The President of Malta, Dr Miriam Spiteri Debono, will be in attendance and will kick off the second set of matches at 10am.