English Football League (EFL) clubs are preparing to vote on a significant reshaping of the Championship play-offs that could reverberate across the English football pyramid as early as next season.
At an extraordinary general meeting scheduled for 5 March 2026, representatives from all 72 EFL clubs will decide whether to expand the current four-team play-off format to include six teams — allowing clubs finishing as low as eighth in the Championship table to compete for promotion to the Premier League.
The proposal, approved by the EFL board and backed by the Football Association (FA), would introduce an eliminator round ahead of the existing semi-finals, mirroring the format used in the National League.
Under the new structure, fifth would host eighth and sixth would host seventh in single-leg knockout ties.
Sunderland came up to the Premier League last season via the play-offs
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The winners would then advance to two-legged semi-finals against the teams that finished third and fourth, with the final continuing to be held at Wembley Stadium, as is traditional for the play-off finale.
Proponents argue this model boosts competitiveness and fan engagement by keeping more clubs involved in meaningful matches later into the season.
Championship sides will have more to play for at the end of the season
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With just two automatic promotion places and a single play-off spot, the Championship often sees its midtable teams drift out of contention well before the final weeks of the campaign — leaving supporters with “dead rubber” fixtures.
By widening the field, advocates say more clubs would retain hope of promotion deeper into the season, sustaining fan interest and commercial value. Sky Sports — the division’s broadcast rights holder — is reported to support the extra matches because of the potential for added drama and higher viewership.
Critics — from pundits to the Premier League — raise concerns
Yet the plan has also attracted criticism. The Premier League has expressed reservations that expanding play-offs to include lower-placed teams could dilute the quality of promoted sides, potentially increasing the risk that newly ascended clubs are ill-prepared for top-flight competition.
Critics point to recent seasons in which play-off winners have struggled — or immediately dropped back down — after promotion, though this pattern is not universal.
Some figures from within the game have been sceptical. Former players and commentators have questioned whether adding extra knockout ties is primarily a commercial decision rather than one grounded in sporting merit.
“The play-offs are perfect for what they are,” former Premier League striker Troy Deeney said when the idea was first floated. “They’re just trying to maximise money, but it’s been perfect; in my opinion, the play-off final is the best game in football.”
Supporters welcome fresh opportunities — especially for ambitious clubs
Fans appear to be widely in favour of the change
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Supporters of clubs outside the traditional top six of the division have responded with cautious optimism.
For teams such as Wrexham, whose Hollywood-backed ambitions have captured global attention, the potential to fight for promotion from a wider bracket represents a tangible boost to their hopes of reaching the Premier League.
As one fan noted in online forums, “It increases interest — as fans of most teams whose seasons have fizzled out know — there’s little to play for if you’re midtable.”
Others caution that expanding play-offs without adjusting relegation could feel unfair or gimmicky.
Some supporters worry that clubs finishing significantly below the current play-off places might not be competitive enough for a sustained top-flight tenure, potentially leading to immediate relegation and a yo-yo effect.
What happens next — and wider implications
For the proposal to pass, it must secure a simple majority of the 72 EFL clubs overall and a majority of the 24 Championship clubs — meaning at least 37 and 13 votes in favour respectively.
If approved, the revamped play-offs could be in place for the 2026–27 season, with similar changes under consideration for League One and League Two down the pyramid.
The decision comes amid wider debates about the structure of English football and how best to balance tradition with innovation, competitiveness with commercial growth.
What is clear is that — whether embraced or resisted — the outcome of the March vote is likely to leave a lasting impact on one of English football’s most dramatic and financially consequential fixtures: the Championship play-offs.
