More than $300 million is at stake over the next 10 days in soccer games around the world, led by Sunderland-Sheffield United on Saturday.
Before there was global viral sensation AFC Wrexham, a no-name Welsh low-tier soccer club that’s now one level away from the English Premier League thanks to the ownership of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney as well as the popular Welcome To Wrexham docuseries, there was Sunderland. One of England’s most storied clubs, founded in 1879, the Black Cats won six first division titles from 1892-1936 and have one of the country’s most loyal and vocal followings. But the team fell on hard times at an unprecedented level over the last decade.
In 2016-17 and 2017-18, Sunderland finished in last place in its league in consecutive seasons, dropping from the guaranteed hundreds of millions and the Premier League’s prestige to not just the second division English Championship but to the third division League One. This shocking fall from grace, which came with fan revolt, multiple ownership changes, and financial hardships, was documented in Sunderland ‘Til I Die, one of Netflix‘s first-ever sports access documentary projects that portrayed the club’s downfall in ways we’ve never seen before. There probably would be no Wrexham without Sunderland. After three years in League One, Sunderland won the playoffs and earned a spot back in the Championship, just one level away from restoring its Premier League glory.
In its third Championship season, Sunderland will play for top-flight promotion on Saturday for the first time since that ill-fated 2016 season against Sheffield United in what’s known as the “richest game in football.” Between TV money and other prize winnings, the last-place team in the Premier League is expected to earn just under $145 million from the league alone, without even factoring in other team-generated revenue. The BBC estimates that Saturday’s winner will receive a minimum of $295.2 million in extra income, leading a stretch of hugely impactful games over the next 10 games with hundreds of millions on the line. Saturday’s loser has to climb the Championship ladder for at least one more season.
Here’s how Sunderland got to this point: In the Championship each season, the clubs that finish with the two best records earn automatic promotion into the Premier League. Teams that place third through sixth compete in two rounds of playoffs, with the semifinalists playing two games home and away. The winners advance to London’s Wembley Stadium for the playoff final, where one game decides which team earns the 20th and final Prem slot.
On Wednesday, Tottenham defeated Manchester United 1-0 in the Europa League final, which was more important than normal. The two popular clubs are having abnormally awful seasons, 16th and 17th in the Premier League, respectively, just outside the relegation zone. Since Spurs won the final, they receive automatic qualification for next season’s Champions League, while United will receive no extra money from additional European competitions next campaign. This year, just qualifying for the Champions League was worth $20.94 million, a significant victory for Tottenham.
Sunday marks the final game of the Premier League season, with significant financial implications for five clubs fighting for the final PL Champions League spots. Manchester City, Newcastle United, Chelsea, Aston Villa, and upstart Nottingham Forest are separated by just three points in the standings. Three teams will earn at least $20.94 million just for making it, one will qualify for the Europa League and earn at least $4.8 million, and one team will walk away empty-handed.
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On Saturday, May 31, after the Champions League final between Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, LAFC will take on Clúb America for the 32nd and final spot in the expanded FIFA Club World Cup taking place in the U.S. next month. This spot is only available because FIFA declared Mexican powerhouse Club León ineligible for the competition because its ownership group owns a second Liga MX team. So, FIFA pivoted and selected two other top CONCACAF teams to play for a berth worth $9.55 million just to qualify and $125 million if they win the whole tournament.
From LA to London, the next 10 days will determine whether teams like Sunderland will earn more than $300 million in commercial and general revenue, or if they’ll walk away from these enormous games with nothing. For the tens of millions of fans watching, the difference between agony and ecstasy could be just one kick.
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