Sunderland AFC (abbreviated as "Sunderland", in English: Sunderland) was founded in 1879 by a group of teachers, originally named the "Sunderland and District Teachers' Association". It officially became a professional team in 1885, competing as Sunderland AFC. The club is based in Tyne and Wear, North East England, and is known as the "Black Cats", boasting a history of over 140 years. As a traditional powerhouse in English football, Sunderland has won the top league championship multiple times and famously won the FA Cup in 1973 as a second-tier team.
The "North East Derby" between Sunderland and their neighbors Newcastle United is one of the most intense football rivalries in England. With a long history, the club's recent journey has been dramatic, suffering relegation from the Premier League in 2017 and experiencing a "double relegation" down to League One. This low point was even made into a documentary. The "Black Cats" have shown remarkable resilience, and after years of hard work and playoff challenges, they finally returned to the Premier League in the summer of 2025 by defeating Sheffield United in an exhilarating Wembley final, completing a remarkable "three-tier jump" from League One to the Premier League.