Wembley Stadium will host the 2025 EFL Play-Off Finals from 24–26 May with a subtle but striking change: all matches will kick off one minute later than scheduled. It’s not a scheduling error or a nod to fashionably late arrivals—this extra minute could help save lives.
In a powerful collaboration between Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation (BHF), the “Every Minute Matters” campaign is back, front and centre.
The new kick-off times—15:01 for the Championship Final (Saturday 24 May), 13:01 for League One (Sunday 25 May), and 15:01 for League Two (Monday 26 May)—are designed to shine a floodlight on CPR awareness and the importance of fast action during cardiac arrest.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t just about football. It’s about turning passion into purpose. Last year, the campaign surpassed its original goal of inspiring 270,000 people—three times Wembley’s capacity—to learn CPR.
Now, they’re aiming higher: 360,000 people trained via the BHF’s online tool RevivR by the time the EFL Play-Off Finals begin.
Trevor Birch, EFL Chief Executive Officer, put it plainly: “The Sky Bet Play-Offs are a special moment in the football calendar… By kicking off all three play-off finals one minute later, Every Minute Matters continues to harness the power and visibility of football to encourage even more people to learn CPR, which could ultimately help to save even more lives.”
The stakes are not theoretical. Just ask Luton Town captain and BHF ambassador Tom Lockyer. “I was just one of the more than 30,000 people who suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest every year in the UK.
I am lucky to be alive today… The symbolic kick-off times are the perfect way to make our lifesaving message impossible to ignore.”
It’s a campaign driven by cold, hard numbers and warm, beating hearts. Fewer than 1 in 10 people survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the UK—a statistic the BHF is determined to change.
Dr Charmaine Griffiths, BHF Chief Executive, is urging fans to act: “With millions of eyes on the Play-Off Finals, it’s incredible to get the support of the EFL in our bid to encourage more fans to learn this lifesaving skill. It only takes 15 minutes to learn with our free online tool RevivR.”
In a sport built on moments that change games, it’s fitting that this moment might change lives. One minute. One skill. One chance to make a difference.
To learn CPR in just 15 minutes, visit revivr.bhf.org.uk/efl or search BHF RevivR. This year’s EFL Play-Off Finals aren’t just about promotion—they’re about preparation.
