May 23, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\nHull will return to the Premier League for the first time since 2016-17, completing an incredible revival just 12 months after they avoided relegation to the third tier on goal difference.<\/p>\n
McBurnie\u2019s late goal hit the jackpot for Hull, with football finance experts Deloitte estimating the play-off final winners will earn at least \u00a3205 million ($275 million) over the next three seasons due to increased match-day, broadcast and commercial revenues.<\/p>\n
That could rise to around \u00a3365 million if the club survives their first season in the Premier League.<\/p>\n
Football League chiefs will hope Hull\u2019s victory brings an end to the scandal that marred the second tier play-offs after Southampton were kicked out for filing a Middlesbrough training session prior to their semi-final first leg.<\/p>\n
Southampton had beaten Middlesbrough 2-1 on aggregate to earn a final showdown with Hull.<\/p>\n
But the Saints were expelled on Tuesday, with an independent commission ruling their boss Tonda Eckert had \u201cspecifically authorised\u201d the spying.<\/p>\n
The English Football League said Southampton admitted to \u201cmultiple breaches of EFL regulations related to the unauthorised filming of other clubs\u2019 training\u201d.<\/p>\n
Southampton chief executive Phil Parsons said the sanctions imposed were \u201cmanifestly disproportionate\u201d.<\/p>\n
The row had presented Middlesbrough with a second chance to win promotion, but they were unable to seize the lifeline as Hull ground out a hard-fought victory in scorching heat.<\/p>\n
That will be a relief to many at Football League headquarters after Hull owner Acun Ilicali vowed to take legal action if the Tigers did not beat Middlesbrough.<\/p>\n
Sergej Jakirovic\u2019s side are the first sixth-placed team to win promotion via the second tier play-offs since Blackpool in 2010.<\/p>\n
The Tigers, who beat third-placed Millwall to secure their place in the final, have been the division\u2019s surprise package all season.<\/p>\n
They were hit with a three-window transfer embargo last year, later reduced to two after a successful appeal, but confounded expectations to snatch a play-off place on the last day of the season.<\/p>\n
In keeping with their unexpected renaissance under Bosnian boss Jakirovic, Hull were perfectly suited to the underdog role at Wembley.<\/p>\n
They spent much of the first half of the back foot as Middlesbrough dominated with over 70 percent of the possession.<\/p>\n
But the Tigers\u2019 counter-attacking game-plan ensured they were a constant threat.<\/p>\n
Liam Millar\u2019s cross reached Lewie Coyle for a header that Brynn pushed over.<\/p>\n
For all their territorial dominance, Middlesbrough were toothless for long spells and Hull\u2019s Mohamed Belloumi almost made them pay with a long-range curler that flashed just wide.<\/p>\n
The burly McBurnie went even closer, rising to meet Ryan Giles\u2019 cross with a header that hit the crossbar.<\/p>\n
Middlesbrough finally prised open the Hull defence on the stroke of half-time but David Strelec\u2019s drive whistled narrowly wide from 20 yards.<\/p>\n
Dael Fry should have put Middlesbrough in front immediately after half-time, but the defender headed wide from close-range.<\/p>\n
Searing temperatures at Wembley sapped the energy from both teams in a soporific second half, prompting Hellberg to send on Hayden Hackney for the last 20 minutes of normal time.<\/p>\n
But Hackney, voted the Championship Player of the Year, had been sidelined by a calf injury since March 14 and he was unable to make at impact.<\/p>\n
Instead, it was McBurnie who sent Hull into dream land deep into stoppage-time, prodding home from close-range after Brynn weakly palmed Yu Hirakawa\u2019s cross into his path.<\/p>\n
\u2013 \u00a9 AFP 2026<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n