EFL Clubs Vote YES! Championship Play-Offs To Expand From 2026/27 Season

Clubs competing in the English Football League (EFL) have approved a significant overhaul of the promotion play-off structure in the EFL Championship, paving the way for six teams to battle for a place in the Premier League from the 2026–2027 season.

According to Ireporter Online, the newly endorsed format will see clubs finishing between third and eighth positions qualify for the post-season competition, aligning the Championship’s structure with that of the National League. Under the revised arrangement, teams placed third and fourth will advance directly to the semi-finals, while sides finishing fifth through eighth will contest one-legged quarter-finals, with fifth hosting eighth and sixth taking on seventh.

The semi-finals will remain two-legged ties, and the final will continue to be staged at the iconic Wembley Stadium at the end of May. There are currently no proposals to replicate the expanded format in EFL League One or EFL League Two.

The proposal, which had been under consideration for several seasons, received formal backing from the EFL board and the The Football Association. The league stated that the objective of the reform is to intensify competition during the closing stages of the campaign while creating additional opportunities for clubs to reach the play-off final and ultimately secure promotion.

Since their introduction in the 1986–1987 season, the Championship play-offs have traditionally featured four teams. Last season offered a glimpse of the fine margins involved, as Millwall FC narrowly missed out after finishing eighth with 66 points, two adrift of Bristol City FC, who claimed the final play-off berth. Sheffield United FC, third on 90 points, were ultimately defeated in the final by Sunderland AFC.

EFL chief executive Trevor Birch described the play-offs as one of the defining spectacles of the domestic calendar, noting that months of consultation with clubs and stakeholders had reinforced confidence that the change would further enhance the Championship’s competitiveness and broaden promotion prospects.

Meanwhile, the National League continues to advocate for an additional automatic promotion spot through its “3UP” campaign. The matter was discussed at a recent general meeting, though no formal vote has yet been scheduled. The EFL has previously maintained that any adjustments to promotion and relegation across its divisions would require majority approval from its member clubs, including those in the Championship.