2026 EFL Championship play-off final

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.^[1] 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.^[2]

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.^[3] 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.^[4]

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.^[5] 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.^[6]

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.^[7] The incident was dubbed Spygate by the media.^[7]

Middlesbrough subsequently released pictures their staff had taken of the man, matching his identity to William Salt, an analyst intern featured on the Southampton club website;^[8] they then reported the incident to the EFL.^[7] The following day, Southampton were charged with breaking EFL Regulations 3.4 and 127.1^[a] in relation to the alleged espionage incident.^[10] 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.^[7]

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.^[7] 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.^[7] 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.^[11]

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.^[12] 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.^[12] The EFL announced that the final would go ahead as scheduled on 23 May at the slightly earlier kick-off time of 15:30 BST,^[13] pending the outcome of any appeal process.

Southampton announced on 20 May that they are appealing against the sanctions, with the appeal to be heard later that day.^[12] Wrexham – who finished seventh in the league, missing out on the play-offs – released a statement in which they said they were "monitoring the situation" and waiting for the release of the EFL's full written reasons for any decision, amid reports that they were considering launching legal action against Southampton.^[14] Play-off final tickets for Middlesbrough fans went on sale online on 20 May;^[15] Southampton had already sold out their allocation of 37,604 tickets by the morning of 19 May, which were subsequently refunded.^[16] Later that day, it was announced that their appeal had been rejected and the final would go on as planned.^[17]

Several South Korean and Japanese news outlets reported criticism of the broadcast of Hull City's trophy ceremony after the match. The reports said that the live coverage changed camera angles when Japanese winger Yū Hirakawa, whose stoppage-time cross led to Oli McBurnie's winning goal, was about to lift the trophy.^[18][19][20]

The reports described the criticism among fans as part of recurring allegations, often called "Asian passing" in South Korean and Japanese media, that Asian players' trophy-lift moments have been missed or minimized in English and European football broadcasts.^[21][22] OSEN also noted that camera-angle changes are common during live trophy ceremonies, while saying that fans had reacted sensitively because similar incidents involving Asian players had repeatedly been discussed.^[22]