Football

EFL Championship Play-Offs Final 2025: Sheffield and Sunderland’s Road to Wembley, Head-to-Head Record, Key Stats, and History

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Sushan Chakraborty
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Sushan Chakraborty Sports Editor

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Published23 May 2025

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Sheffield United and Sunderland will meet in the 2025 EFL Championship play-off final in front of a packed Wembley Stadium with promotion dreams.

Before the EFL Championship play-offs final kicks off at 3:01 PM on Saturday — one minute later than normal — SportsCasting has prepared an all-in-one guide.

Below, we will take a look at Sheffield and Sunderland A.F.C.’s road to Wembley, explore their head-to-head record, and dive into the history of the most valuable game in football.

EFL Championship Play-Offs Final 2025: Sheffield United and Sunderland A.F.C.’s Road to Wembley

Teams finishing first and second in the EFL Championship earn a direct promotion to the Premier League. In the 2024-25 season, Leeds United and Burnley captured the golden tickets, with both teams finishing on 100 points.

Teams ranked third to sixth also have a shot at promotion, but it comes in the form of brutal play-offs. This year, Sheffield United (third), Sunderland (fourth), Coventry City (fifth), and Bristol City (sixth) took part in the play-offs, and now, only two teams are left standing.

Sheffield United’s Road to Wembley

Sheffield United won 28 games, drew 8, and lost 10 across the 2024-25 EFL Championship season, amassing a total of 90 points. In their final game of the regular campaign, the Blades drew 1-1 with Blackburn Rovers.

They met sixth-ranked Bristol City (68 points) in the Championship play-offs semi-final. Thoroughly dominating Bristol over two legs, they claimed a commanding 6-0 victory. They won 3-0 in the first leg at Ashton Gate, greatly capitalising on Robert Dickie’s red card — for a reckless action inside the box — in the first-half injury time. Harrison Burrows converted from the penalty spot before Andre Brooks (73′) and Callum O’Hare (79′) put the visitors firmly in control.

The Blades played another brilliant game in the return leg at Bramall Lane. Kieffer Moore (41′), Gustavo Hamer (52′), and Callum O’Hare (83′) scored a goal each to seal a 6-0 aggregate victory.

Sunderland A.F.C.’s Road to Wembley

Sunderland did not have as good a Championship campaign as Sheffield United. They amassed 76 points from 46 games, ing 21 wins, 13 draws, and 12 defeats. They disappointingly lost their last five game of the Championship season.

Considering their poor run of form, not many expected the Black Cats to survive the play-offs semi-final ties against Coventry City. However, they came good when the time came, beating Coventry City 3-2 on aggregate.

In the first leg away at Coventry Building Society Arena, Sunderland nicked a 2-1 win, with Wilson Isior (68′) and Eliezer Mayenda (88′) finding the back of the net. In the return leg at the Stadium of Light, Daniel Ballard scored in the injury time of extra time, cancelling out Ephron Mason-Clark’s 76th-minute equaliser for Coventry, and sending his team to Wembley Stadium.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland A.F.C.: Head-to-Head Stats

Sheffield Utd and Sunderland have met 147 times in all competitions over the years, with most of their clashes coming in the old Division One.

The Black Cats have dominated the fixture over the years, emerging victorious in 67 of their head-to-head clashes with the Blades. The Yorkshire outfit, on the other hand, have won 54 times. The two Championship sides shared spoils in the remaining 26 games.

Sheffield United-Sunderland A.F.C. Head-to-Head Championship Play-Offs

Sheffield United and Sunderland have only met once before in the Championship play-offs, with it coming in the semi-finals of the 1997-98 season. Sunderland came out on top that time, claiming a 3-2 win on aggregate.

They lost 2-1 away at Sheffield before turning it around at home, claiming a 2-0 win. The Black Cats, however, could not go the distance that time, losing the final on penalties to Charlton Athletic.

Sheffield vs Sunderland: Last 10 Meetings in All Competitions

  • Jan 01, 2025: Sunderland 2-1 Sheffield United (Championship)
  • Nov 29, 2024: Sheffield United 1-0 Sunderland (Championship)
  • Mar 15, 2023: Sunderland 1-2 Sheffield United (Championship)
  • Aug 17, 2022: Sheffield United 2-1 Sunderland (Championship)
  • Sep 25, 2019: Sheffield United 0-1 Sunderland (EFL Cup Third Round)
  • Dec 26, 2017: Sheffield United 3-0 Sunderland (Championship)
  • Sep 09, 2017: Sunderland 1-2 Sheffield United (Championship)
  • Jan 22, 2005: Sunderland 1-0 Sheffield United (Championship)
  • Sep 28, 2004: Sheffield United 1-0 Sunderland (Championship)
  • Apr 09, 2004: Sunderland 3-0 Sheffield United (First Division)

Sheffield United vs Sunderland A.F.C.: 10 Fascinating Stats Ahead of 2025 EFL Championship Play-Offs Final

Having looked at Sheffield United and Sunderland A.F.C.’s head-to-head statistics, we turn our attention to some more fascinating data ahead of the 2025 EFL Championship play-offs final.

  • Sheffield United’s 14-point gap to Sunderland in the regular Championship season is the greatest points difference between two play-off finalists (across divisions) in the tournament’s current format.
  • Neither Sheffield United nor Sunderland A.F.C. have yet won an EFL Championship play-off.
  • The Black Cats last won an EFL play-offs final in 2022, beating Wycombe Wanderers 2-0. Sheffield remain without play-offs glory.
  • This is Sunderland’s third second-tier/Championship play-offs final. They lost 1-0 to Swindon Town in 1989-90 and then on penalties to Charlton in 1997-98.
  • Sheffield United will take part in their fifth EFL play-offs final. They lost the last one to League One opponents Huddersfield Town in May 2012.
  • Between 1985 and 2019, Sunderland lost seven competitive games at Wembley Stadium. They have, however, won their last two, beating Tranmere in 2021 (EFL Trophy final) and Wycombe in 2922 (League One play-offs final).
  • Sheffield Utd have not won at Wembley in 100 years. Their last victory at the iconic London venue came against Cardiff City in the 1925 FA Cup final. They have since lost six games and drawn one.
  • Sheffield scored three goals in both of their semi-final matches against Bristol City. If they score as many against Sunderland, they will become only the third team in history (Walsall – 1987-88, Barnsley 2015-16) to score as many in three consecutive games in Football League play-offs.
  • Callum O’Hare scored in both semi-final legs against Bristol City — the first player to do so since Bobby Zamora for West Ham United in 2005.
  • Sheffield Utd have beaten Sunderland A.F.C. in five of their last seven games, but lost the most recent one (2-1) in January.

Championship Play-Offs Final History: Recent Winners, Successful Clubs, and Frequent Losers

The Championship play-offs final is one of the most-watched footballing events in the world. Since the introduction of the knockout format in 1987, 27 teams have won the competition,

Most Recent Championship Play-Offs Final Winners

The most recent Championship play-offs final was contested between Leeds United and Southampton.

In the 24th minute, Adam Armstrong found the back of the net for Southampton. Leeds United did all they could to restore parity, but could not find a way through. The game ended 1-0 in Southampton’s favour, sending them through to the Premier League.

Unfortunately, Southampton could not make the most of their promotion in the 2024-25 season. Having scored just 12 points in 37 games, Southampton have finished 20th and will return to the Championship next season.

Most Frequent Winners in Championship Play-Offs

Since 1987, nine teams have managed to win the Championship play-offs final multiple times. Crystal Palace, who recently won their first major honour — the FA Cup — have bossed the finals, winning promotion to the Premier League through play-offs four times.

Refer to the table below to check out the list of winners as well as the years they secured promotion in.

Team Total Wins Years Won
Crystal Palace 4 1989, 1997, 2004, 2013
Bolton Wanderers 2 1995, 2001
Charlton Athletic 2 1987, 1998
Fulham 2018, 2020
Hull City 2008, 2016
Leicester City 1994, 1996
Swindon Town 1990, 1993
Watford 1999, 2006
West Ham United 2005, 2012

Unluckiest Teams in Play-Offs

Ipswich Town, who have been relegated from the Premier League this season, have participated in Championship play-offs a t-record eight times. They only reached the final in 2000, which, fortunately, ended in a 4-2 win over Barnsley. Derby County have also competed in eight play-offs, with their sole triumph coming in 2007.

Derby County, Reading, and Sheffield United have lost three finals each, holding the record for most final defeats. The Blades will be eager to avoid their fourth setback on Saturday.

Championship Play-Offs 2025: Beer Prices at Wembley Stadium

Sheffield United and Sunderland A.F.C. fans will flock to Wembley Stadium to watch their teams in action on Saturday, May 24. There are plenty of pubs around Wembley to get the pre-match buzz going, but there is nothing quite like having a cold one when two of the Championship’s finest are giving their all on the pitch.

If you want to have a pint at the iconic Wembley Stadium, you will have to shell out £7.85 for Stella and £7.85 for Cider (Magners). Want to try something different instead? Check out our complete Wembley Beer and Beverage Guide (Including Soft Drinks and More) to plan right and ahead for the 2025 Championship play-offs final.