EFL votes to expand plays offs to Premier League into a six team knock-out

March 6 – The English Football League (EFL) has taken a bold step toward expanding its Championship play-offs, with clubs having voted for an expansion from four teams to six beginning in the 2026-27 season.

Under the new format, sides finishing third through eighth will have the opportunity to compete of a place in the Premier League.

It is a move that is closer to an American-style post-season bonanza similar to MLS Cup.

Currently, as it stands, it means eighth-placed Derby and seventh-placed Southampton would be involved in the play-offs.

Rams boss John Eustace is in favour of the development. “It’ll probably help teams who have had a lot of injuries and smaller squads to keep fighting to the end of the season,” he told BBC Radio Derby.

“Teams get different runs of form throughout the season and if you get injury problems and they all come back in the last 10 or 15 games it can have its ups.”

Third and fourth place will advance directly to the semi-finals. Fifth will host eighth and sixth will host seventh in single-leg quarter-finals, with the semi-finals remaining two-legged affairs. The final stays at the home of English football, Wembley Stadium, in late May.

The structure will allow more teams to remain alive, maximising broadcast value and, more importantly, keeping fan engagement alive until potentially the last games of the season.

“The decision is intended to increase the number of competitive fixtures during the closing stages of the campaign, while also giving two additional clubs the opportunity to reach the play-off final at Wembley Stadium and progress to the Premier League,” the EFL said.

EFL chief executive Trevor Birch said the change as evolution, not revolution, saying: “The play-offs have become a highlight of the domestic football calendar, capturing the drama, suspense and jeopardy that make the EFL so special,” Birch said.

“Following several months of discussion with clubs and other stakeholders, we are confident this change will further strengthen the Championship as a competition and give more clubs and their supporters a genuine opportunity of achieving promotion.”

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