Championship play-off final prize money: Sheffield United & Sunderland clash in 'richest game in football'

Sunderland and Sheffield United will battle for the Premier League promotion.

Often referred to as the “richest game in football,” the EFL Championship play-off final will be the main event this weekend.

One team will win promotion to the Premier League at the conclusion of a demanding 49-game season. There are other benefits besides top-level participation.

In this year’s championship game, Sheffield United will play Sunderland at Wembley with the goal of immediately returning to the top.

Each club that makes it to the promised land receives a substantial financial boost in addition to the opportunity to play against some of the top teams & players around the globe.

But how profitable is it to go to the top level in England through the Wembley route? We look.

Prize money for the Championship-playoff

The value of winning the play-off final is enormous. Although both play-off finalists will split the approximately £2 million in ticket sales at Wembley, it is not the money earned directly from winning the match.

The ‘richest game in football’, however, is more about the future rewards that the victorious club will get. Both Sunderland and Chris Wilder’s team are aware that a victory at Wembley would provide them with a significant financial boost.

The BBC reports that the 2025 final winners will get at least £220 million in additional revenue, which is more than the £140 million they received the previous year.

In 2005, the playoff final was valued at approximately £31 million; however, its value skyrocketed with a new TV rights contract.

A portion of the new domestic TV deal, worth £6.7 billion over four seasons, will go to either Sheffield or Sunderland.

Additionally, they will get facility fees, centralised commercial fees, and merit bonuses simply for playing in the Premier League.

If the team survives relegation in their first season in the top division, that might increase over a five-year period.

Conversely, if the promoted team is sent back from the Premier League, they may be eligible for parachute payments. That financial handout currently goes to Sheffield, but if they defeat the Black Cats, it will end.

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