The Hull vs Middlesbrough play-off final is one of the most extraordinary Wembley showpieces in the 40-year history of the EFL play-offs. Before a ball has even been kicked on May 23, 2026, this match has already made headlines around the world — not for what happened on the pitch, but for the stunning scandal that shaped the fixture itself.
Southampton were expelled from the Championship play-offs after the club admitted to multiple breaches of EFL regulations related to the unauthorised filming of other clubs’ training sessions. As a result, Middlesbrough were reinstated and will face Hull City at Wembley Stadium. With a place in the Premier League — and a prize pot worth an estimated £200 million — on the line, here are five key things to know ahead of this historic final. ITV News
1. How Did the Hull vs Middlesbrough Play-Off Final Come About?
This was never supposed to be the final. Southampton had beaten Middlesbrough in the semi-finals and were preparing to face Hull City at Wembley. Then came one of the most explosive verdicts in English football history.
Southampton admitted to spying on Middlesbrough, Oxford United in December 2025, and Ipswich Town in April 2026. The first incident occurred in December 2025, shortly after Tonda Eckert became head coach. ITV News
An Independent Disciplinary Commission expelled Southampton from the play-offs and also handed them a four-point deduction to be applied to the 2026-27 Championship table. Southampton appealed, but their appeal was dismissed and the original sanction of expulsion remains in place. NBC SportsESPN
The result? The Hull vs Middlesbrough play-off final was confirmed — giving both clubs an extraordinary second chance at glory.
2. Hull City: The Championship’s Biggest Surprise Package
Few people gave Hull City a chance of reaching Wembley this season. The Tigers survived relegation to League One on goal difference last May before appointing former Bosnia international Sergej Jakirovic as manager. They were then hit with a transfer embargo and were not considered promotion contenders by anyone.
Middlesbrough finished the regular 2025-26 season in fifth place in the EFL Championship, one position and seven points ahead of Hull City, who finished sixth. Yet Hull defied expectations all season, spending the vast majority of the campaign inside the top six. Wikipedia
In their play-off semi-final, Hull faced third-placed Millwall. The first leg at the MKM Stadium ended 0-0. In the second leg at The Den, Hull scored in the 64th minute when Mohamed Belloumi cut inside to curl the opener off the far post, and added a second in the 79th minute when substitute Joe Gelhardt fired low through the grasp of Anthony Patterson. Hull won 2-0 on aggregate, earning a place in the final and a chance to return to the top tier of English football for the first time since 2017. Wikipedia
Hull manager Jakirovic said: “It is maybe the biggest achievement of my life in football. Yes, I’ve won some titles in the past and been successful. But to reach the Championship Play-Off Final tops that.” William Hill
3. Middlesbrough: From Heartbreak to Wembley in Days
The emotional rollercoaster Middlesbrough have endured makes their journey to this Hull vs Middlesbrough play-off final almost impossible to script. Although Southampton beat Middlesbrough on the pitch in extra time in their semi-final, they were later expelled from the play-off final after the EFL found them guilty of spying on multiple opponents — including Middlesbrough — and Boro were reinstated to face Hull in the final at Wembley. ESPN
Middlesbrough released a statement saying: “We believe this sends out a clear message for the future of our game regarding sporting integrity and conduct. As a club, we are now focused on our game against Hull City at Wembley.” Sky Sports
Crucially, Boro’s players had not gone on holiday after their semi-final exit and had continued training — a decision that now looks inspired, giving them precious preparation time for the biggest game of their season.
4. What Is at Stake in the Hull vs Middlesbrough Play-Off Final?
The play-off final is often dubbed “the richest game in sports” due to the prize on offer — a Premier League spot for next season. The financial reward of promotion, including TV deals, prize money, and commercial revenue, is estimated at around £200 million over the course of a top-flight season. ESPN
For Hull, it would be a return to the Premier League for the first time since 2017 — a remarkable achievement given where the club stood just 12 months ago. For Middlesbrough, it would end a long wait to reclaim their place among English football’s elite. Hull’s leading scorer Oli McBurnie netted 17 goals in the Championship this season, making him a key threat at Wembley. William Hill
Hull will be without forward Kyle Joseph, who picked up an injury in the semi-final win over Millwall, which is a blow to Jakirovic’s attacking options heading into the biggest match of the season.
5. The Shadow of Southampton’s Spygate
No preview of the Hull vs Middlesbrough play-off final would be complete without addressing the scandal that surrounds it. Southampton acknowledged wrongdoing but questioned the severity of the punishment as they appealed the decision — an appeal that ultimately failed. NBC Sports
Southampton had been one of the most remarkable stories of the 2025-26 season, going from two wins in their first 13 Championship matches to reaching the play-off final, while also going on a fairytale run to the FA Cup semi-finals, beating Arsenal in the quarter-finals before losing narrowly to Manchester City. All of that goodwill has now been overshadowed entirely by the actions of the club’s coaching staff. NBC Sports
The FA has opened its own investigation into the matter, and further punishments for individuals involved are expected in the coming weeks. For Hull and Middlesbrough, however, the focus now firmly turns to Wembley and the chance of a lifetime.
For full official squad and team news, visit EFL.com and BBC Sport’s Championship coverage. For more on the Spygate scandal and what it means for English football’s integrity rules, read our related pieces on Southampton’s expulsion explained and the biggest controversies in EFL history.
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