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Championship play-offs to undergo major change from next season
Mar 05 2026 12:12 · By onefootball.com · 20 Reads
Clubs have voted to extend the Championship play-offs from four to six teams from next season, the English Football League has confirmed.
Starting from the 2026-27 season, the Championship clubs have finish seventh and eighth in the table will be included, and will face the teams who finish fifth and sixth in a new one-off “eliminator” tie.
Then, the winners will progress to the two-legged semi-finals, against the teams who finish third and fourth, for the chance to advance to Wembley and compete for a place in the Premier League .
“Following several months of discussion with clubs and other stakeholders, we are confident this change will further strengthen the Championship as a competition and give more clubs and their supporters a genuine opportunity of achieving promotion,” EFL chief executive Trevor Birch said.