Play-off final to be richest match in football history

The Richest match in football history takes place on Saturday night. No, it’s not the Champions League Final: it’s the play-off final, Hull City v Sheffield Wednesday.

Best odds at BetVictor

• Sheffield Wednesday @ 13/5
• Draw @ 9/4
• Hull City @ 13/5

The Champions League Final will be the biggest match taking place on Saturday, especially for those who bet on sport. However, a game taking place a couple of hours earlier will be the richest match in football history. The Championship play-off final takes place on early Saturday evening at Wembley. Hull City (who came fourth this season) and Sheffield Wednesday (who came sixth) will compete for the final place in the Premier League. The winner can expect to gain at least £170 million.

While Middlesbrough and Brighton effectively played off for promotion at the start of May, the loser still had the chance of escaping the league through the play-offs. The loser this Saturday will not. The Championship play-off final has long been regarded as the richest match in world football but this time around it is fair to call it the richest match in football history.

What makes this richest match in football history

The Premier League TV new £5 billion TV deal kicks-in next year, with the bottom team guaranteed at least £95 million. If relegated, the promoted team would earn the remainder of the £170 million in the form of “parachute payments”, paid by the Premier League to lessen the pain of demotion. If they manage to stay up next season, even if they get relegated subsequently their parachute payments will be increased: this would guarantee earnings of at least £290million.


Merely participating in the Premier League will increase brand awareness and could mean the availability of millions more from marketing. And if the promoted team were to be a success in the Premier League they would stand to earn even more. If they were do “do a Leicester” and win the league, they would stand to gain over £150 million, plus the benefits of Champions League participation and publicity. But don’t rush to internet betting sites in the EU to put money on that happening...

How close do other games come to richest match in football history?

It’s a biggest profile game than the Championship play-off final, but the FA cup final win only earned Manchester United £1.8 million. Even the prize money for the Champions League is only (£11.4m), although over the course of the season the Champion’s League winners will have earned €100 million (£76m).

Who will win promotion to the Premier League?

First goalscorer odds at Bet365 Sportsbook

• Abel Hernandez @ 9/2
• Fernando Forestieri @ 11/2
• Gary Hooper @ 6/1

Online sportsbooks in the UK have Hull City as favourites. They were only relegated last year, and maintain some players of Premier League talent. They have talent throughout the team: centre-back Michael Dawson leads from behind, with left-back Andy Robertson a talent destined for greater things. The playmaking talent of Robert Snodgrass and Shaun Maloney could prove important on the day.

Bet on top scorer Abel Hernandez to score; he bagged 21 league goals this season. Steve Bruce will fancy his chances on the big stage. After great success as a Manchester United player, he has guided both Birmingham City and Hull City to promotion previously. Mohamed Diamé is a powerhouse in midfield; if he performs, Hull should win..

Sheffield Wednesday will know, though, that in a one off game anything can happen. Fernando Forestieri scored 15 league goals this season, with Gary Hooper close behind on 13. One weakness of Hull is the absence of first choice keeper Allan McGregor; his replacement Eldin Jakupovic hasn’t impressed previously. Still, bet on Hull to win the richest match in football history.