League One Playoff Battle Heats Up: Which Teams Will Fight for Promotion in 2025-26?

For clubs aspiring to reach the Championship—England's second tier and the division directly beneath the Premier League—they must first navigate the challenges of League One.

This demanding 24-team competition features former powerhouses and emerging talents, where only the most resilient survive an exhausting campaign. Advancement is valuable and difficult to achieve.

Clubs can earn promotion through two routes. Secure first or second place for automatic advancement, or finish within the playoff positions from third to sixth place.

The first option is clear-cut. The second—considerably more complex.

So what's the structure of League One playoffs and when will they occur in 2025–26? Here's your complete guide.

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How do the League One Playoffs Work?

After the League One season ends, teams placed third through sixth receive a final opportunity for promotion, entering playoffs to compete for the division's remaining Championship spot.

The system starts with semifinal matches. The third-place finisher meets the sixth-place team, while fourth and fifth clash in the other matchup. Both encounters span two legs, with the higher-ranked team hosting the return fixture as recognition of their superior league standing.

Advancement depends on the combined score from both games. Should teams be tied after the second leg, additional time follows, then penalty kicks if required.

The victors proceed to the playoff final at Wembley Stadium. This crucial encounter is a single game with promotion at stake, using extra time and penalties if the match remains undecided after regulation.

When Are the 2025–26 League One Playoffs?

The 2025–26 League One season concludes with final matches scheduled for May 2–3, 2026.

Currently, the EFL has only announced the League One playoff final date, set for Wembley Stadium on Sunday, May 24, 2026—positioned between the Championship final and League Two finale.

Semifinal scheduling remains to be confirmed.

How Much Is Winning the League One Playoff Final Worth?

Claiming the League One playoff championship doesn't provide an instant financial reward from the EFL. Teams already collect standard EFL funding plus Premier League solidarity payments totaling approximately £2 million annually.

Though a Wembley appearance can generate additional revenue through ticket sales and matchday earnings, the genuine financial benefit comes afterward. Championship promotion delivers substantially increased central distributions, with EFL payments and solidarity funds climbing to around £11 million combined, plus enhanced television income and typically larger crowds.

Simply put, while no direct prize money accompanies the final victory, the extended financial benefits of League One playoff success are substantial.

Who Are in Contention for the 2025–26 League One Playoffs?

Cardiff City leads the League One standings, though Lincoln City and Bradford City are applying pressure in second and third positions.

Between fourth and eighth place, competition is intense, with minimal points separating Bolton Wanderers, Stevenage, Stockport County, Huddersfield Town and Luton Town. Each remains viable for playoff qualification—and possibly automatic promotion.

However, League One is famously unpredictable. Brief winning streaks or difficult spells can rapidly alter standings, and with half the campaign remaining, the playoff battle stays completely open.

*League One table correct as of 27-12-25.

Who Has the Best League One Playoffs Record?

Eight teams have secured promotion from the third division through playoff final victories on two separate occasions. Walsall pioneered this achievement in 2001, with Sheffield Wednesday's triumph over Barnsley in 2023 being the latest example.

The remaining clubs with two League One playoff final victories include Peterborough United, Huddersfield Town, Barnsley, Millwall, Rotherham United and Blackpool.