Sat May 24 13:10:00 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**Sheffield United and Sunderland Face Off in High-Stakes Championship Play-Off Final**

**Wembley Stadium, London -** The stage is set at Wembley Stadium as Sheffield United and Sunderland prepare to battle it out in the Championship play-off final. The winner will join Leeds United and Burnley in securing promotion to the Premier League next season. The highly anticipated match kicks off at 15:01 BST, with the timing chosen to support the British Heart Foundation’s ‘Every Minute Matters’ campaign.

Sheffield United, relegated from the top flight last season, are looking to make an immediate return. Sunderland, who haven’t tasted Premier League football since 2017, are hoping to end their exile.

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder, a lifelong Blades fan who made over 100 appearances for the club, described leading his team out at Wembley as a “great honour.” He emphasized the importance of the game: “We’re here to win.”

Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris stated his team is “exactly where we wanted to be” and have shown the “discipline, resilience, identity” needed to win at Wembley.

Both teams secured their place in the final after differing semi-final experiences. Sheffield United dominated Bristol City with a 6-0 aggregate victory, while Sunderland edged past Coventry in a tense tie decided by a last-gasp goal in extra time.

History is also on the line. Neither side has ever won a Championship play-off before. Sheffield United has a particularly dismal play-off record, having lost all four of their previous finals. Sunderland has lost in two previous Championship play-off finals, although they were promoted in 1990 despite losing, due to Swindon’s demotion.

Today marks the 135th meeting between the two sides. The only previous play-off encounter occurred in the 1997-98 semi-final, with Sunderland emerging victorious.

In team news, Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has rotated his attacking options, bringing in Rhian Brewster and Tyrese Campbell into the starting XI. Sunderland have made two changes, with Chris Rigg becoming the youngest player to feature in a play-off final.

The atmosphere at Wembley is electric, with fans from both sides descending on London. Sheffield United haven’t won a game at Wembley since 1925, whilst Sunderland have won their last two at the stadium. Fans on both sides spoke of the excitement and nervousness ahead of what is arguably the biggest game of their season.

The Blades will be unified by the memory of George Baldock, a former player who passed away last October, and whose memory is fuelling their push for promotion.

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