Championship play-offs: EFL clubs vote in favour of six-team play-off

EFL clubs have voted to expand the Championship play-offs from four to six teams.

The new system will mirror the format used in the National League and will be introduced for the 2026-27 season.

This means that the teams in third and eighth place will compete for promotion to the Premier League.

The clubs finishing third and fourth will advance directly to the semi-finals, while a one-legged quarter-final will be played with the fifth home team finishing eighth and the sixth home team seventh.

The semi-finals will be two-legged and the final will be held at Wembley at the end of May.

The proposal has been under consideration for several seasons and has been approved by the EFL board and the Football Association.

“The aim of the decision is to increase the number of competitive fixtures in the closing stages of the campaign while also giving two additional clubs the opportunity to reach the play-off final at Wembley Stadium and progress to the Premier League,” the EFL said. he said.