The Battle for the Last Seat in the Premier League: Tottenham or West Ham?

The Premier League 2025/26 season is the scene of a breathless final day on the relegation front. The season's last round is being played today, in the traditional format where all matches start simultaneously at 16:00 local UK time. Although Arsenal long ago secured the title, the real tension is at the bottom of the table.

Two of the relegation zone's residents are already known. Wolverhampton Wanderers, as the season's first relegated team, had mathematically bid farewell to the Championship. Burnley then confirmed their relegation after a 1-0 loss to Manchester City on April 22. Thus, both teams will compete in the second tier next season.

The only remaining question is the owner of the third and final drop spot. There is a direct two-way battle for this seat: 17th-placed Tottenham Hotspur and 18th-placed West Ham United. Tottenham enter the final day two points ahead of West Ham, and their goal-difference advantage is also large: with a goal difference of -10, they are 12 goals better off than West Ham, who stand at -22. This goal-difference gap makes the final day's math extremely difficult for West Ham.

The final day's critical matches are as follows: Tottenham host Everton at home; West Ham face Leeds United at home. There is only one scenario for West Ham to stay up: win their own match and, at the same time, have Everton beat Tottenham. In other words, West Ham must both do their own job and hope their rival loses.

For Tottenham, the picture is much more comfortable. Spurs stay up for certain if they win or draw their match. Even if they lose their match, they are still saved as long as West Ham do not win. In the scenario where West Ham win and Tottenham draw, the two teams would be level on 39 points, but Tottenham's 12-goal goal-difference superiority would, in all likelihood, save them.

A historic dimension is also added to this battle. A possible relegation would mean the first for Tottenham since 1977 — that is, after 49 years. For this reason, the real story of the final day will be written in this battle waged near the bottom by the two London clubs. Although Everton and Leeds no longer have anything to play for in terms of the league, the atmosphere of two big matches adds a special importance to these games.

In conclusion, the answer to the question "Which will be the third team relegated from the Premier League?" depends on the final-day results on the Tottenham–West Ham line. With the absence of Burnley and Wolverhampton confirmed, Tottenham, standing out with their goal-difference advantage, are the favorites for the remaining single seat; however, West Ham's chance of a dramatic escape, even if only mathematically, is on the table until the final whistle. As the results become clear, the bottom of the table will take its final shape.