Championship Playoff Battle Heats Up: Which Teams Will Fight for Premier League Glory in 2025-26?

To reach the coveted Premier League, clubs must first conquer the Championship—England's second-tier division within the English Football League (EFL).

This presents a formidable challenge. Recognized as among Europe's most demanding competitions, the Championship blends unrelenting physicality with exceptional competitive balance, where any team can triumph over another on any given matchday.

Just a handful of clubs achieve promotion annually, either through direct qualification or the brutally competitive playoffs, where aspirations are realized and shattered within mere weeks.

Here, we examine the playoff system. What is the structure of Championship playoffs? When do they occur during the 2025–26 campaign? And which clubs are competing? Here's your complete guide.

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What Is the Championship Playoff Structure?

Following the Championship campaign's completion, the leading two clubs earn direct Premier League promotion.

The final promotion spot is determined through playoffs, featuring teams finishing third through sixth. The competition starts with two semifinal matchups across two legs. Third meets sixth, while fourth battles fifth, with the superior-ranked team hosting the decisive second leg.

Each matchup is resolved by combined score from both games. If teams remain tied after the second match, additional time is played with penalty shootouts used if necessary to find a winner.

The semifinal winners advance to the playoff final at Wembley Stadium—a single decisive encounter frequently called football's most lucrative match. The victor earns promotion, with extra time and penalties again available if the contest remains deadlocked after regulation.

When Do the 2025–26 Championship Playoffs Take Place?

The 2025–26 Championship campaign will wrap up with final league matches occurring during the May 2–3, 2026 weekend.

Though complete playoff scheduling awaits EFL confirmation, the playoff final is set for Saturday, May 23, 2026, at Wembley Stadium. This marquee event precedes the League One final by one day and the League Two final by two days.

What Is the Value of Championship Playoff Final Victory?

The Championship playoff final is universally considered football's most financially significant single match—exceeding even the Champions League final's value. But what explains this?

No direct prize money accompanies trophy victory. While clubs generate extra revenue from Wembley's sellout atmosphere and television coverage, the genuine value exists elsewhere: Premier League advancement.

Championship teams typically receive approximately £11 million annually through EFL distributions and Premier League solidarity funds. This amount diminishes compared to Premier League earnings.

During the 2024–25 season, every Premier League club collected £7.9 million in central commercial revenue, plus equal broadcast income shares—£29.8 million from domestic television rights and £59.2 million from international rights.

Additional performance-based "merit payments" increase according to final league standing, plus "facility fees" when matches receive live domestic broadcast selection. Even the Premier League's bottom club earned substantially more than any Championship team.

Parachute payments also apply. Clubs relegated after one Premier League season receive £41.6 million during their first Championship year, followed by £34.0 million in year two. Even brief top-flight participation can revolutionize club finances.

This explains why Championship playoff final victory is often termed football's richest game—promotion alone can exceed £100 million in value.

Which Teams Are Championship Playoff Contenders for 2025–26?

Currently, Coventry City—under Chelsea icon Frank Lampard's management—dominate the Championship summit. They appear destined for automatic promotion, or minimally a playoff berth, though anything short of promotion would disappoint given their commanding lead.

Beneath them, the situation remains unclear. Less than 10 points divide second through tenth positions, creating a massive group of clubs—from Middlesbrough to Stoke City—within playoff striking distance.

True to Championship tradition, the league's duration and relentless competition ensure rapid fortune changes. Strong winning streaks or brief poor spells can dramatically alter standings, and realistically, even teams positioned as low as 18th retain outside playoff chances.

*Championship standings accurate as of 29-12-25.

Which Club Leads Championship Playoff Success?

Crystal Palace leads Championship playoff achievements, earning top-flight promotion through playoffs four times—surpassing all other clubs.

Multiple teams have claimed playoff victory twice, including Fulham, West Ham United, Watford, Bolton Wanderers, Hull City and Swindon Town.

Swindon's record requires clarification: Despite winning two playoff finals on field, they received promotion just once, as their 1990 triumph was subsequently nullified due to financial violations.