Pre-match information
Hull City and Middlesbrough will enter the Championship play-off final at Wembley with the goal of winning the last ticket to play in the Premier League.
Middlesbrough was actually eliminated in the semi-finals after a 1-2 defeat to Southampton. However, everything changed completely after Southampton was defeated and eliminated from the tournament for secretly filming Boro's secret training session before the first leg. This is considered one of the controversial and unprecedented decisions in Championship history.
On the other side, Hull City also experienced a chaotic season in their own way. From the situation of having to stay in the league thanks to goal difference last season to the transfer ban in the 2025-2026 season, few people believe that "The Tigers" can get so close to the Premier League.
Under Sergej Jakirovic, Hull is facing the opportunity to return to the highest league in England for the first time since the 2016-2017 season. If successful, they will become the first team to rank sixth in the Championship but still win promotion since Blackpool in the 2009-2010 season.
Middlesbrough entered the match with no shortage of worries about the force. Tommy Conway is definitely absent due to an ankle injury, while captain Hayden Hackney still has to race against time to be back in time after a calf injury that has lasted since March.
Hull City also does not have the best squad. Eliot Matazo and Kyle Joseph are definitely sidelined, while Cody Dramah, Toby Collyer and Amir Hadziahmetovic still need to be further assessed for their fitness.
Middlesbrough once won big against Hull 4-1 right at MKM stadium in early December. However, Hull avenged their debt just a few weeks later with a 1-0 victory at Riverside.
A noteworthy detail is that this will be the first time in the history of Championship play-off finals that two coaches are both experiencing their first season working in England.
