EFL mulls expanding Championship play-offs to include seventh and eighth

The English Football League is considering a change to the Championship play-off format that would expand the post‑season to include teams finishing seventh and eighth, potentially giving more clubs a route to promotion to the Premier League.

Under the proposal, reported by The Athletic and circulated to Championship clubs, the teams finishing fifth would host eighth and sixth would host seventh in a single‑match eliminator round. The winners would then progress to the existing two‑legged semi‑finals, with the final remaining a one‑off match at Wembley.

The proposed structure would mirror the National League’s 2017 play‑off overhaul, which introduced single‑match eliminators before two‑legged ties. EFL officials have discussed staging the initial eliminators at the home ground of the higher‑placed side to preserve a reward for finishing higher in the table.

Only Championship clubs have been consulted so far, according to people briefed on the discussions, but the EFL is said to be interested in assessing whether similar changes should be applied to League One and League Two. Any formal alteration to the competitions would require approval from the Football Association board.

Supporters of the idea argue it would increase late‑season competition by extending the number of clubs with a realistic chance of a top‑eight finish and reduce the number of inconsequential fixtures towards the end of campaigns. The proposal reportedly won positive feedback when presented by Preston North End chief executive Peter Risdale.

Opponents and external stakeholders are likely to scrutinise the plan for competitive and commercial implications. The Premier League has previously expressed reservations about widening routes to the top flight amid concerns about potentially diluting the standard of promoted teams. The play‑off final has long been considered one of football’s most financially consequential matches; the 2025 final between Sunderland and Sheffield United, won 2‑1 by Sunderland, was reported to be worth around £200 million in potential rewards for promotion.

The Championship currently promotes two teams automatically, with clubs placed third through sixth entering the play‑offs for the third promotion spot. Play‑offs were first introduced in English football in 1987 and have become a significant element of end‑of‑season scheduling and finance.

EFL officials did not provide a timetable for any decision, and a formal proposal has not been submitted to the FA. Any changes would follow further consultation with clubs, governing bodies and commercial partners before being confirmed or dismissed.