Why Are The 2025 EFL Play-Off Finals Kick-Off Times One Minute Later Than Normal?

The eagle-eyed football fans out there would have noticed that the EFL Play-Off Finals kick-off times are all ONE MINUTE later than scheduled – but why is this?

Play-Off Final Kick-Off Times One Minute Later To Raise R Awareness 

Trying to think of new ways to raise awareness for good causes associated with sporting events is not always easy – as some marketing campaigns and banners can just get lost in the hype.

However, in a bid to try and combat this, the English Football League have decided to tamper with the Play-Off Final kick-off times – in the hope fans will wonder why and search for the reason.

It’s a tactic that the world of horse racing have used over the years – with strange starting times for races popping up all the time.

But this ploy has now been taken up in the EFL Play-Off Finals.

As each game will kick-off a minute later than normal, with the Championship Play-Off Final starting at 3:01pm

The reason for the change is to raise awareness for R – with the tagline “Every Minute Matters”.

❤️ 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬 𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗨𝗧𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦 ❤️

The Sky Bet EFL Play-Off Finals will kick off one minute later than scheduled ⏳

This is to highlight the inspiring message that when it comes to performing lifesaving R Every Minute Matters. 🫶 #EveryMinuteMatters #EFLPlayOffs

— Sky Bet (@SkyBet) May 19, 2025

This initiative is in partnership with the British Heart Foundation.

With the overall aim to encourage people to learn more about R and arm themselves with the right skills to be able to perform it – meaning they could be the difference in saving someone’s life.

It also comes two years after Luton Town’s Tom Lockyer collapsed at Wembley when the Hatters beat Coventry in the 2023 Championship Play-Off Final.

Lockyer suffered from atrial fibrillation – which is an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rate. He had surgery after the incident but suffered a cardiac arrest when playing against Bournemouth the following season.

The 30 year-old Welsh player his hoping to play again – but he’s still not made it clear if he’ll return for the 2025-26 football season.

Play-Off Dates, Teams and Kick-Off Times 2024/25

Championship Play-Off Date 2025

⚽Teams: Sunderland vs Sheffield United
🗓️Date: Saturday 24th May 2025
⌚KO: 15:01pm
🏟️Stadium: Wembley

League One Play-Off Date 2025

⚽Teams: Charlton vs Leyton Orient
🗓️Date: Sunday 25th May 2025
⌚KO: 13:01pm
🏟️Stadium: Wembley

League Two Play-Off Date 2025

⚽Teams: AFC Wimbledon vs Walsall
🗓️Date: Monday 26th May 2025
⌚KO: 15:01pm
🏟️Stadium: Wembley

Which Team Won The Championship Play-Off Final Last Season (2024)?

Last season the Championship Play-Off Final, which is tagged as the ‘richest one off game of football in the world’, saw Southampton and Leeds face-off at Wembley.

The game ended in a cagey 1-0 win for Southampton thanks to a goal from Adam Armstrong.

However, despite winning promotion to the Premier League, Southampton finished bottom of the table in 2024/25 and will return to the Championship in 2025/26.

In contrast, the patience for Leeds has paid off as they will be back in the English top-flight next term. Having won automatic promotion by winning the Championship with 100 points.

Prior to his season, Leeds were last promoted to the Premier League in 2020.

The 2025 Championship Play-Off Final will be between Sunderland and Sheffield United – as they both look for a return to the lucrative top-flight.

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When were Sheffield United last in the Premier League?

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Championship Play-Off Final Winners (Last 5 Years)