2026 EFL Championship play-off final

The 2026 EFL Championship play-off final is an association football match that will be played between Hull City and Middlesbrough on 23 May 2026 to decide the final team to achieve promotion from the EFL Championship, the second tier of English football, to the Premier League. The top two teams of the 2025–26 EFL Championship, Coventry City and Ipswich Town, gained automatic promotion, while the clubs that placed from third to sixth – Millwall, Southampton, Middlesbrough and Hull City – are taking part in the 2026 English Football League play-offs.

Southampton initially qualified for the play-off final by defeating Middlesbrough in their semi-final matches. However, following the Spygate scandal, Southampton were expelled from the play-offs on 19 May, sending Middlesbrough through to the final to face Hull City.

Middlesbrough finished the regular 2025–26 season in fifth place in the EFL Championship, the second tier of the English football league system, one position and seven points ahead of Hull City. They both therefore missed out on the two automatic places for promotion to the Premier League and instead took part in the play-offs to determine the third and final promoted team. Middlesbrough finished four points behind Ipswich Town (who were promoted in second place) and 15 points behind league winners Coventry City, whilst Hull City were 11 points behind Ipswich Town and 22 points behind Coventry City.

In their play-off semi-final, Hull City faced third-placed Millwall with the first match of the two-legged tie taking place at the MKM Stadium in Kingston upon Hull on 8 May 2026. Millwall had more possession in the first-half but did not have any major chances. In the second-half, Hull tightened up their defensive structure. Ryan Leonard thought he gave Millwall the lead but referee Gavin Ward blew for a foul and the game finished 0–0. The second leg took place at Millwall's The Den on 11 May. Hull scored in the 64th minute when Mohamed Belloumi, who replaced the injured Kyle Joseph, cut inside to curl the opener off the far post. Hull added a second in the 79th minute when another substitute Joe Gelhardt fired low through the grasp of Anthony Patterson. No further goals were scored and Hull won 2–0 on aggregate winning a place in the final and a chance to return to the top tier of English football for the first time since 2017.

The first match of the other play-off semi-final took place at the Riverside Stadium on 9 May 2026. Middlesbrough dominated the first-half with the home side having 17 shots to Southampton's none but did not score. Southampton improved in the second-half and Taylor Harwood-Bellis headed an effort against the bar and the game finished 0–0. The second leg took place on 12 May at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton. Middlesbrough took the lead in the fifth minute when Riley McGree shot first time from a central position in the box into the bottom corner. Southampton equalised just before half-time with Ross Stewart heading the ball over the line from close range. No further goals were scored in the second-half and the game went to extra time. Southampton scored in the 116th minute when Shea Charles crossed the ball from the right wing which crept in at the far post. The game ended 2–1 to Southampton and also 2–1 on aggregate, sending Southampton through to the final, prior to the outcome of any disciplinary proceedings.

On 7 May, two days before the first leg of the play-off semi-final between Middlesbrough and Southampton, a man wearing earphones was seen using a smartphone to film Middlesbrough players and coaching staff training at Rockliffe Park. The man attempted to hide behind a tree outside the training ground, but was spotted by Middlesbrough club staff. When approached, the man refused to identify himself and fled through a nearby golf course, changing into different clothing in the golf club toilets before leaving the area. The incident was dubbed Spygate by the media.

Middlesbrough subsequently released pictures their staff had taken of the man, matching his identity to a staff member featured on the Southampton club website; they then reported the incident to the EFL. The following day, Southampton were charged with breaking EFL Regulations 3.4 and 127.1 in relation to the alleged espionage incident. After the 0–0 draw in the first leg of the play-off semi-final, Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg publicly accused Southampton of cheating; when the Southampton manager Tonda Eckert was asked "are you a cheat?" by a journalist in a post-match press conference, he did not answer and walked out.

If found guilty, the potential punishments for Southampton included one of, or a combination of: a fine; a points deduction for the following season; or being expelled from the play-offs. Despite their semi-final defeat after the second leg, Middlesbrough players returned to training at Rockliffe Park on 14 May, delaying the start of their summer break in case they were to advance to the play-off final as a result of disciplinary proceedings against Southampton. Ticket sales for the Championship play-off final commenced on 15 May after a slight delay, despite ongoing uncertainty around Southampton's participation; the EFL were working on the basis that the final would go ahead as planned, while having contingency options in place for all potential scenarios.

A hearing with the EFL Independent Disciplinary Commission took place on 19 May. During that evening, it was announced that Southampton had admitted conducting espionage against Middlesbrough, and they were also charged with conducting espionage prior to regular season matches against Oxford United in December 2025 and against promotion rivals Ipswich Town in April 2026. As a result, Southampton were expelled from the play-offs and Middlesbrough advanced to the final in their place; Southampton were also deducted four points for the following season. The EFL announced that the final would go ahead as scheduled on 23 May, pending the outcome of any appeal process. Southampton have announced that they are appealing against the sanctions, with the appeal to be heard on 20 May.