Millwall had featured in three play-off finals prior to this game. They lost the 2009 Football League One play-off Final 3–2 to Scunthorpe United but triumphed the following season in the 2010 Football League One play-off Final defeating Swindon Town 1–0. Millwall also lost the previous season's final 3–1 to Barnsley. They had played at Wembley in the 2012–13 FA Cup semi-final, losing to Wigan Athletic. Bradford City played in the 1996 Football League Second Division play-off Final at the old Wembley Stadium, beating Notts County 2–0. They had also appeared at Wembley: in 2013 they won the League Two play-off Final 3–0 against Northampton Town but lost 5–0 to Swansea City in the 2013 Football League Cup Final. During the regular 2016–17 season, both fixtures between the clubs had ended in 1–1 draws. Gregory was Millwall's highest scorer with seventeen goals, while Jordy Hiwula was Bradford's top marksman with nine. Bradford were attempting to restore their Championship status which they had lost 13 years prior, having been relegated from the 2003–04 Football League First Division. Millwall last played in the Championship during the 2014–15 season when they were relegated to League One after finishing in 22nd position.