Play-off details for Middlesbrough as their final Championship position was confirmed
14:26, 02 May 2026Updated 14:32, 02 May 2026
Middlesbrough players huddle before kick-off at Wrexham(Image: Cody Froggatt/PA Wire)
Middlesbrough will play Southampton in the Championship play-off semi-final after securing an fifth-placed finish.
On the final day of the season, Boro drew 2-2 Wrexham, but it wasn’t enough to secure second place and automatic promotion, with Ipswich Town getting the job done by beating QPR 3-0 at Portman Road.
Instead, Boro’s draw against Wrexham left Kim Hellberg’s side in fifth place in the table, which means they will meet Southampton in the play-off semi-finals over two legs.
The Saints’ 3-1 win over Preston means they take fourth and, crucially, home advantage for the second leg.
Over the last five seasons, only one of the ten teams to reach the play-off final at Wembley did so without home advantage in the second leg. That was, however, Coventry against Boro three years ago.
This time, Boro will hope to buck the trend, with the first leg being played at the Riverside on Saturday, May 9 (12.30pm kick-off).
The second leg at St Mary’s will then be played on Tuesday, May 12 (8pm kick-off). Both games will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
The winner over the two legs will then be off to Wembley where they will play the winner of the other play-off semi-final, which will be contested between Millwall and Hull City. The final, often known as the richest prize in football, will determine who joins Coventry and Ipwich Town in the Premier League next season.
Boro will be announcing ticket details for both home and away legs of the play-offs in due course.
Boro play-off dates
Semi finals
Middlesbrough vs Southampton – Saturday May 9 (12.30pm kick-off)Southampton vs Middlesbrough – Tuesday, May 12 (8pm kick-off)
Final
Saturday, May 23, Wembley Stadium (kick-off tbc).Today’s Championship resultsWrexham 2-2 MiddlesbroughIpswich 3-0 QPRMillwall 2-0 OxfordPreston 1-3 SouthamptonHull City 2-1 Norwich CityDerby Co 1-2 Sheffield United
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