Oli McBurnie's 95th-minute winner secured Hull City's promotion to the Premier League as they defeated Middlesbrough 1-0 in the Championship play-off final at Wembley.

Having been reinstated following Southampton's disqualification over the 'Spygate' scandal, Middlesbrough saw goalkeeper Sol Brynn spill a cross from Yu Hirakawa with extra time looming, allowing McBurnie to tuck into an unguarded net and spark wild celebrations. 

Hull owner Acun Ilicali said before kick-off that the Tigers would launch a legal challenge if they were to lose the game, believing they should have been automatically awarded promotion, but they can now prepare for their first top-flight campaign since 2016-17 without needing to go to the courtroom. 

After all the explosive build-up, the first half of the game was a slow burner in stifling heat, with a wayward David Strelec header the only real chance until the 42nd minute.

The contest then burst into life right before the interval, with Mohamed Belloumi curling off-target and McBurnie clattering the crossbar with a diving header for Hull, while Strelec dragged wide for Boro after a bustling run into the area.

Kim Hellberg's team should have gone ahead three minutes into the second half, when Dael Fry passed up a glorious headed chance, before Hayden Hackney came off the bench for his first appearance since March, having recovered from a groin injury.

Hackney slipped in Sontje Hansen to draw an excellent save from Ivor Pandur, though the offside flag went up in any case, and after Joe Gelhardt shot wide on the swivel at the other end, the fourth official signalled for a minimum of eight additional minutes.

Five minutes into that period, Hirakawa drove down the left flank to cross, and when Brynn could not hold it, McBurnie was on hand to end Hull's nine-year Premier League exile.

WE ARE GOING UP!!!!#hcafc pic.twitter.com/O2HIO5znxQ

— Hull City (@HullCity) May 23, 2026

Data Debrief: Another play-off final decided at the death 

Both Hull and Middlesbrough were last relegated from the Premier League in 2017, but after taking very different routes to Wembley, both were one step from the promised land.

In the end, it was McBurnie's goal that proved decisive, meaning Hull have won all three of their Championship play-off finals – also beating Bristol City in 2008 and Sheffield Wednesday in 2016.

McBurnie struck after 94 minutes and seven seconds, meaning there has now been a goal scored in the 90th minute or later in regulation time in back-to-back Championship play-off finals.

Tom Watson was the hero last year, scoring Sunderland's only goal to defeat Sheffield United after 94 minutes and 34 seconds.

Sergej Jakirovic's Hull managed 0.89 expected goals (xG) compared to Middlesbrough's 0.87, though none of the 13 shots attempted by Hellberg's team hit the target.