Fighting relegation & eyeing promotion? Championship set for six-team play-offs
The Championship play-offs expand to six teams this season. Here's a closer look at how it may pan out and the thoughts of those involved.
Derby County, Millwall, Middlesbrough and Blackburn Rovers are set to benefit from a new six-team play-off format in the 2026-27 Championship season. Over the past five seasons, these teams have regularly finished eighth in the table, without any reward for their performances. The new regulations will see seventh and eighth-placed clubs automatically enter the play-offs, with third and fourth progressing directly to the semi-finals.
The quarter-final will be a one-legged match, while semi-finals will remain two-legged. The final will still take place at Wembley.
The English Football League aims to increase the number of competitive fixtures in the closing stages of the season, which may influence how teams approach the league. The new format could potentially offer more teams a shot at promotion, although some argue that it may not always be fair to lower-ranked clubs. While there are concerns about the fairness of the new system, some clubs and players see it as a positive change that could lead to more exciting post-season competition.
Written by urgent.news from BBC Sport's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
