How do the EFL championship playoffs work?
A simple guide to how the EFL Championship play-offs work, including who qualifies, the two-legged semi-finals, and how promotion is decided.
The EFL Championship is unpredictable at the best of times, but nothing matches the tension of the playoffs. The league table spends months taking shape, teams climb and fall, and then it all comes down to a three-game sprint where anything can happen.
Promotion through the playoffs is worth more than prestige. It brings Premier League status, national attention, financial security and a place in one of the most competitive leagues in the world.
No wonder fans treat it as a season within a season.
How does the EFL Championship table work?
The EFL Championship table uses the same scoring system as the Premier League.
Three points for a win
One for a draw
None for a loss
Goal difference breaks ties
Once the 46-game season finishes, the places are locked. The top two go straight up. The next four prepare for the playoffs.
It’s a long season, and small patches of strong form can change everything. A team sitting tenth in February can still climb into sixth with the right run. That unpredictability is what keeps the league interesting.
How did last season’s EFL Championship table finish?
The 2024-25 season delivered one of the highest totals the league has ever seen.
Leeds United finished top with 100 points, with Burnley matching them on 100 points but missing out on the title through goal difference.
The playoff places were decided by the final few rounds:
3rd: Southampton – 87 points
4th: Norwich City – 78 points
5th: Sunderland – 75 points
6th: Coventry City – 72 points
Those four clubs moved into the playoff bracket.
How many teams reach the EFL Championship playoffs?
Once the 46-match season is complete, the Championship table decides the first two automatic promotion places. First and second go straight up to the Premier League.
The teams that finish third to sixth enter the playoffs.
These four clubs move into a playoff bracket designed to reward the highest finisher without giving them a guaranteed route to Wembley. Each tie is played over two legs, home and away.
There is no advantage carried over from league position once the whistle goes, it’s simply two matches to decide who reaches the final.
How do the semi-finals work?
The semi-finals follow a straightforward format. The higher-ranked team plays the second leg at home, which is considered a small advantage. Away goals do not apply.
If the aggregate score is level after both matches, extra time is played. If it remains equal, the tie goes to penalties.
This format adds a nice layer of tension. A team can finish third with 85 points and still see their season end in a shootout against a side that finished sixth with far fewer points. That is the beauty and chaos of the Championship.
How does the Championship playoff final work?
The winners of the two semi-finals meet in a single match at Wembley Stadium. There are no two legs here. Ninety minutes decide it, unless the match goes to extra time or penalties.
It’s often called the richest match in football because of the financial reward attached to Premier League status. For supporters, though, it’s about something else entirely. This is the moment that becomes part of club identity. The one fans talk about for years.
Win, and the party lasts all summer. Lose, and the walk back to the station feels twice as long.
Track the promotion race with Match Bingo
If you follow the EFL Championship stats closely, you know the tension builds long before the final match. Teams gain confidence, lose it, rediscover it and desperately try to hold momentum together.
Match Bingo gives you a way to follow those shifts while the match is happening. The bingo cards update live with the moments that shape EFL Championship stats, from pressure spells to big chances, late goals, bookings, and everything that matters in a promotion race.
EFL fixtures and many more are live in the app. Play now and follow every twist as it happens.
