Today's game between Hull and Middlesbrough will kick-off at May 23, 2026, 10:30 AM.
The TV channel and live stream options for Hull vs Middlesbrough are listed below. In the United States, the Championship playoff final is available to watch live on Paramount+.
 |
Hull City and Middlesbrough meet at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, May 23, in the 2026 Championship playoff final, with a place in the Premier League the prize for the winner.
The match arrives amid extraordinary circumstances. Southampton were originally scheduled to face Hull in the final, but the EFL expelled them following a spying scandal, with an independent panel finding the club guilty of illicit espionage on three separate occasions — including against Middlesbrough before their semi-final. Southampton's appeal was thrown out, and Boro were reinstated in their place.
Hull owner Acun Ilicali publicly called for his club to be granted automatic promotion given the chaos surrounding the process, but that request went unheeded. The Tigers will now face Middlesbrough at Wembley as scheduled, with the full weight of a Premier League place on the line.
For Hull, this is a chance to reach the top flight for the first time in years, having finished sixth in the Championship table. Sergej Jakirovic's side beat Millwall across two legs in the semi-finals, winning the second leg 2-0 at The Den to book their place at Wembley.
Middlesbrough arrive as the aggrieved party turned beneficiary. Kim Hellberg's side were beaten by Southampton in the semi-final on aggregate, only to be handed a reprieve when the EFL ruled against the Saints. Boro finished fifth in the Championship, one place and seven points ahead of Hull, and will carry that as a measure of their quality into the final.
For both clubs, the financial and sporting stakes could not be higher. Promotion to the Premier League is worth well in excess of £100 million in broadcast revenue alone.
Below, you can find all the information you need on where to watch Hull vs Middlesbrough, including TV channel, live stream options, and kick-off time.
How to watch Hull vs Middlesbrough with VPN
If you are travelling abroad or just want to access your usual streaming services from a different part of the world, you may run into geo-restrictions. This is where a Virtual Private Network (VPN) comes in handy.
A VPN, such as ExpressVPN, allows you to establish a secure, encrypted connection online. By virtually changing your location to a country where the game is being broadcast, you can bypass blackout restrictions and watch your favourite team live. A step-by-step guide is described later in this article, or you can also check out our guide to the best VPNs for streaming sports.
Team news & squads
Hull vs Middlesbrough Probable lineups
Starting XI
Manager
- S. Jakirovic
- K. Hellberg
Injuries and Suspensions
Hull head into the final with one confirmed absentee. Midfielder Eliot Matazo is listed as injured and will not be available for Sergej Jakirovic. No suspensions are recorded for the Tigers, and no probable starting lineup has been confirmed ahead of the match. Further updates are expected closer to kick-off.
Middlesbrough have no reported injuries or suspensions in the data available ahead of the final. Kim Hellberg has a clean bill of health to contend with as he prepares his side for Wembley. As with Hull, a confirmed lineup has not yet been released, and team news will be updated as it emerges.
Injuries and Suspended players
Injuries and Suspensions
Injuries and Suspensions
- No sidelined players
Form
HUL-Form
HUL- Goal Scored (Conceded)
- 7/5
- Games over 2.5 goals
- 3/5
- Both teams scored
- 3/5
MID-Form
MIDWrexham
2
-
2
Middlesbrough
D
Middlesbrough
5
-
1
Watford
W
Middlesbrough
1
-
0
Sheffield Wednesday
W
Ipswich
2
-
2
Middlesbrough
D
Middlesbrough
0
-
1
Portsmouth
L
- Goal Scored (Conceded)
- 10/6
- Games over 2.5 goals
- 3/5
- Both teams scored
- 3/5
Hull arrive at Wembley in reasonable form, having won two of their last five Championship matches, drawn one, and lost one. Their most recent outing was a 2-0 victory away at Millwall on May 11, the decisive second leg of their playoff semi-final. They also beat Norwich 2-1 earlier in the run-in, though a 2-1 defeat to Charlton and a 2-2 draw with Leicester show their results have not been entirely consistent. Across those five matches, Hull scored seven goals and conceded six.
Middlesbrough's last five matches tell a similar story of mixed but ultimately positive form. Boro recorded two wins, two draws, and one defeat. Their standout result was a 5-1 demolition of Watford on April 25, a statement of attacking intent. They also beat Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 and drew 2-2 with both Wrexham and Ipswich, before losing 1-0 to Portsmouth in April. Boro scored ten goals across those five games and conceded five, suggesting a side capable of real attacking output.
Head-to-Head Record
HULLast 5 matches
MID1
Win
1
Draw
3
Wins
Middlesbrough
0
-
1
Hull
Hull
1
-
4
Middlesbrough
Hull
0
-
1
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
3
-
1
Hull
Hull
2
-
2
Middlesbrough
Goals scored
10- Games over 2.5 goals
- 3/5
- Both teams scored
- 3/5
Recent meetings between these two clubs have favoured Middlesbrough. The most recent encounter came in December 2025, when Hull won 1-0 at the Riverside, but earlier that same month Boro had beaten Hull 4-1 at the MKM Stadium — the heaviest result across the last five meetings. Middlesbrough have won three of those five clashes, with Hull claiming one victory and one match ending in a 2-2 draw. On the basis of recent head-to-head history, Boro hold a clear edge, though Hull's form in the playoff rounds suggests they are not a side easily written off.
Standings
Middlesbrough finished fifth in the Championship table this season, one place and seven points above Hull City, who ended the regular campaign in sixth. Both clubs qualified for the playoffs through that top-six finish, and now meet at Wembley to decide which of them earns promotion to the Premier League.
Step-by-step VPN guide to watch Hull vs Middlesbrough today
NordVPN- Download & Install: Sign up to ExpressVPN or another reputable VPN service (check out GOAL's guide here) and download the app on your device.
- Connect to a Server: Open the app and select a server location where the match is being shown (e.g. if you are in the UK but want to watch a US stream, connect to a US server).
- Clear Cache: Sometimes your browser holds onto your old location. Clear your cookies or refresh your browser to ensure the change takes effect.
- Start Streaming: Go to your broadcaster's website and app and enjoy the game.
How to watch on the Big Screen
Watching on your phone or laptop is fine, but live sports belongs on the big screen. Here is how to get the VPN working on your TV:
- Smart TVs & Fire Stick: Most Android-based TVs and devices like the Amazon Fire TV Stick or Google Chromecast with Google TV have native VPN apps. Simply search for your VPN provider in the app store on your TV, log in, and connect just like you would on your phone.
- Apple TV, Roku & Consoles: These devices often don't support direct VPN apps. The easiest workaround is to use Smart DNS (usually found in your VPN account settings) or Mirror/Cast the stream from your VPN-connected phone or laptop to your TV.