Hull City and Middlesbrough will vie for Premier League promotion in football’s most lucrative game as they contest a one-of-a-kind Championship play-off final this afternoon at Wembley Stadium.
Unprecedented circumstances
The circumstances surrounding this finale have been truly unprecedented. Southampton were expelled from the play-offs after being caught spying on Middlesbrough ahead of their semi-final tie, which the Saints had won 2-1 on aggregate. This meant that despite defeat, Middlesbrough were reinstated into the play-offs. After Southampton’s last-minute appeal was rejected, Kim Hellberg’s side now have a chance to return to the Premier League for the first time since 2017.
Hull's path to the final
Hull City, who were left to watch the Spygate scandal unfold with uncertainty over who they would face at Wembley, sealed their place in the final via more conventional methods. They beat third-place finishers Millwall to leave them potentially just 90 minutes away from top-flight football.
Team news and build-up
Both teams are finalising their line-ups for the crucial match. Middlesbrough will be looking to capitalise on their second chance, while Hull aim to secure promotion through their own merit. The winner will earn a place in the Premier League, with all the financial rewards that come with it.
Stay tuned for live updates, team news, and match action as the drama unfolds at Wembley.
