How Sunderland returned to the top flight and Europe in a single season
In short: After years in the wilderness, Sunderland's 2025–26 campaign marked a historic resurgence. From a hard-fought promotion to securing a place in European competition, the club's journey back to the Premier League elite was defined by a remarkable climb up the domestic standings.
The 2025–26 season represented the 147th in the history of Sunderland Association Football Club. Following a successful promotion from the Championship in the preceding year, the club returned to the Premier League for the first time since the 2016–17 campaign. This return was not merely about survival; the club's performance in the domestic league was strong enough to secure a 7th-place finish.
This high ranking carried significant historical weight, as it earned the club a spot in the 2026–27 UEFA Europa League. This qualification was a landmark achievement for the side, marking their first appearance in European football since 1973. The season's success was supported by a reported income of £51,200,000, excluding undisclosed transfer fees.
The club's schedule was intensive, involving domestic league play, the FA Cup, and the EFL Cup. In the FA Cup, Sunderland's path took them through away fixtures against Everton in the third round, Oxford United in the fourth, and Port Vale in the fifth. In the EFL Cup, they began their campaign in the second round with a home match against League One's Huddersfield Town.
Preparations for the season began in early summer. The club revealed a pre-season programme on 7 June, including fixtures versus Real Betis, Hull City, Heart of Midlothian, South Shields and Gateshead. During an Algarve training retreat, matches against Sevilla and Sporting CP will take place, ending with Rayo Vallecano and FC Augsburg. The official league fixtures were subsequently released on 18 June 2025.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2025–26 Sunderland A.F.C. season
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