Hull City and Middlesbrough will meet at Wembley Stadium on Saturday afternoon, May 23, 2026, to decide the final promotion place to the Premier League.
The winner of this single-match Championship playoff final will join Coventry City and Ipswich Town in the top flight for the 2026–27 season.
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Middlesbrough reached the final after the English Football League expelled Southampton due to a scouting controversy. That decision overrode Boro's initial semifinal aggregate defeat.
The losing side will remain in the Championship and face potential budget restructuring and squad changes.
Match Rules and Financial Stakes
If the score is tied after 90 minutes, two 15-minute extra-time periods will be played. A penalty shootout will follow if necessary, according to EFL regulations.
Financial estimates suggest the losing club could miss out on well over £100 million in revenue.
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Historical head-to-head favors Middlesbrough, who have won five of the last eight meetings against Hull City.
However, the regular-season fixtures were split: Hull City won 1-0 at the Riverside after an earlier 4-1 home defeat.
Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg provided a fitness update on a key midfielder returning from a calf injury.
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The player has been sidelined since mid-March, and his potential return could be a significant boost.
