It seriously comes down to money, like big time. The Sheffield United vs Sunderland play-off final is straight up called "the richest game in football" for a reason. Whoever wins gets promoted to the Premier League, and that's like hitting the lottery because clubs get an estimated £220 million just for making it there. It comes from TV deals, more fans, and sponsors just throwing cash at you because you'd be in the top flight.

I remember reading that clubs who lose this kind of match can really struggle. My cousin's a Sunderland fan and he always stresses about it—he says if they win, the club could sign better players, hire better coaches, and fix a ton of money problems. If they lose, wow, it could just mean scraping by in the Championship again and letting talent go, which honestly sucks for fans. That's why it’s so tense watching, you know? One game can totally change a club’s future. My friends and I joke it's more stressful than any exam! So, yeah, the financial impact is nuts. Whoever wins, their club’s future looks way brighter.