Clubs to vote on expanding Championship play-offs

"EFL clubs will vote on expanding play-offs in the Championship from four to six teams at a meeting on 5 March. The proposal, which has been under consideration for a number of seasons, would mean the teams finishing from third to eighth compete for a place in the Premier League. It would mirror the format used in the National League."

"The teams finishing in third and fourth would automatically move through to the semi-finals. The quarter-finals, or eliminator round, would feature one-legged ties, with fifth hosting eighth and sixth at home to seventh. In the two-legged semi-finals, third place would take on the lowest-ranked team remaining, with fourth facing the highest. The final would still take place at Wembley at the end of May."

"The change has been approved by the EFL board and the Football Association. It requires a majority of clubs in the EFL (at least 37 of 72) and also in the Championship (at least 13 of 24) to vote in favour of the change at the extraordinary general meeting. The Championship has what could be described as a master share in any vote to alter the regulations. If passed, the new play-off system would be in place for the 2026-27 season."

The EFL proposes expanding Championship play-offs to six teams, allowing clubs finishing third to eighth to contest promotion to the Premier League. Third and fourth would advance automatically to two-legged semi-finals while fifth to eighth would compete in one-legged quarter-final eliminators: fifth v eighth and sixth v seventh. In the semi-finals third would face the lowest-ranked remaining team and fourth the highest, with the final at Wembley in late May. The change has board and FA approval but needs majorities across EFL and Championship clubs to be implemented for the 2026-27 season. The move aims to widen promotion opportunities for smaller clubs and may be assessed for lower leagues.

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