Leeds United and Southampton will clash in the Championship play-off final on Sunday with a Premier League spot on the line.
It’s known as ‘the richest game in football,’ and this Sunday, Leeds and Southampton will battle to reach the Premier League as they face off in the Championship play-off final. Champions Leicester City and Ipswich Town have already secured their places in England’s top flight for the 2024/25 season, following a thrilling promotion race that went down to the final day.
Both Leeds and Southampton ended their semi-final first legs with 0-0 draws but secured emphatic home victories. Daniel Farke’s Leeds side thrashed Norwich 4-0, while Russell Martin’s Southampton cruised past West Brom 3-1.
There appears to be no clear favorite for the season finale. Leeds finished third, three points ahead of Southampton in the table, but Southampton did the double over Leeds during the season, winning 3-1 at St Mary’s in September and 2-1 at Elland Road in May. At Wembley, both clubs will be vying for an immediate return to the Premier League and the significant financial rewards that come with victory.
According to the official Wembley website, the winners will receive around £100 million just for securing promotion, with potential earnings doubling to approximately £200 million if they stay in the Premier League for the 2024/25 season. Additional revenue from television deals and final placings in the top flight will further boost the financial rewards.
Last year’s play-off final saw Luton Town overcome Coventry City on penalties, securing promotion to the Premier League for the first time in their history. Although Luton narrowly failed to maintain their top-flight status under Rob Edwards, they will receive parachute payments for the next three years if they don’t bounce back from the Championship.
Despite the high stakes, Martin has talked up the clash, emphasizing the attacking style that both teams have shown this season. “I think it’s going to be a really top game of football,” he said. “It’s going to be one to look forward to and to also feel a lot of butterflies and nerves throughout the week. We have to manage that with the players and staff. The players deserve that. They deserve the opportunity because of how brave they’ve been.”
Farke, aiming for a third promotion after twice going up with Norwich, immediately refocused his players after their semi-final win, stating: “I’m already focused on the next task.”