After limping to the finish line of the 2025-26 EFL Championship campaign, Hull City might very well have been pegged by the vast majority of pundits to be eliminated by Millwall in their promotion semifinal tie.
But a surprise 0-0 draw at the MKM Stadium meant that the tie would enter its second leg at The Den with the potential to go either way.
Hull City pounced on the opportunity they created, controlling the pace well against Millwall to start the contest before converting two second-half chances to take the second leg by a score of 2-0. Hull's play on the counter was also quite strong, and such an attacking strategy gave the Tigers the chance to extend that second-half lead much further.
But if you're a United States-based football fan and you're looking for a club to back for promotion to the Premier League, the highest tier of English football, then Hull City could very well be the club for you.
Jozy Altidore enjoyed a brief loan spell with Hull City
Jozy Altidore, who played in two World Cups for the United States while helping Toronto FC to win the MLS Cup in 2017, spent part of his early professional career with the Tigers while they were still in the Premier League.
Initially loaned to Hull by LaLiga side Villarreal, Altidore made his debut in the second half of a match against Bolton Wanderers in August 2009, with his first goal for the club coming in an EFL Cup tie with Southend United.
That said, in his first and only season for Hull, Altidore would score just two goals through 30 appearances, with the second of the two goals coming in Premier League action. After the 2009-10 season, Altidore would play for Turkish Super Lig side Bursaspor before signing with Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.
What's next for Hull?
Hull currently sits one match from returning to the Premier League for the first time since 2017. They'll head to Wembley Stadium to contest the final of the EFL Championship promotion playoff against Southampton, who defeated Middlesbrough 2-1 in the second leg of their own semifinal tie.
It is worth noting that American striker Damion Downs played part of the 2025-26 campaign with Southampton, though he was loaned out to Bundesliga side Hamburger SV in early January.
The promotion playoff final will take place on Saturday, May 23.
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