The English Championship is known for its fierce competition, with 24 teams vying for a coveted spot in the Premier League each season.
The playoffs are arguably the most captivating part of the Championship season. This mini-tournament offers a final chance for four teams to achieve promotion.
- What are the Championship playoffs?
- How do the Championship playoffs work?
- Which teams could qualify for the 2025 Championship playoffs?
- Championship 2024-25 Table (as of March 29, 2025)
- Where to watch the Championship playoffs 2025
- When are the 2025 Championship playoffs?
- When and where is the Championship playoff final 2025?
- Championship playoffs 2025 fixtures & results
- Semi-finals
- Final
- Who won the Championship playoffs in 2024?
- How much is winning the Championship playoffs worth?
What are the Championship playoffs?
The Championship playoffs are a knockout tournament held after the regular season in English football. They determine the third team to be promoted to the Premier League.
While the top two teams in the 46-game season automatically get promoted, the teams finishing third through sixth enter the playoffs for the last promotion place.
How do the Championship playoffs work?
The race for playoff spots in the unpredictable Championship is always intense. The stakes become even higher when the playoffs begin at the end of the season.
These playoffs involve the four teams just below the automatic promotion places in a high-pressure knockout format. Teams finishing third to sixth qualify for the chance to win the final promotion spot.
In the semi-finals, the team in third place plays against the sixth-placed team, and the fourth-placed team plays the fifth. Each semi-final is played over two legs, with each team hosting one match. The team that finished higher in the league gets to play the second leg at their home ground.
The winner of each semi-final is decided by the aggregate score from both legs. There is no away goals rule. If the scores are level after the second leg, extra time is played, and if needed, penalties will decide the winner.
The two semi-final winners then compete in the play-off final, a single match held at Wembley Stadium. If the game is tied after regular time, extra time and then penalties are used to determine the winner. The team that wins the final is promoted to the Premier League for the next season.
Which teams could qualify for the 2025 Championship playoffs?
Four teams will qualify for the Championship playoffs. As the season progresses into its final third, it will become clearer which teams are in contention.
Championship 2024-25 Table (as of March 29, 2025)
| Position | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sheffield United | 39 | 26 | 7 | 6 | +27 | 83 |
| 2 | Leeds United | 39 | 23 | 12 | 4 | +51 | 81 |
| 3 | Burnley | 39 | 22 | 15 | 2 | +42 | 81 |
| 4 | Sunderland | 39 | 20 | 12 | 7 | +19 | 72 |
| 5 | Coventry City | 39 | 17 | 8 | 14 | +5 | 59 |
| 6 | West Bromwich Albion | 39 | 13 | 18 | 8 | +13 | 57 |
| 7 | Middlesbrough | 39 | 16 | 9 | 14 | +10 | 57 |
| 8 | Bristol City | 39 | 14 | 15 | 10 | +7 | 57 |
Several strong teams are competing for the four playoff places as the season nears its end. Burnley and Sheffield United, relegated from the Premier League, are aiming for an immediate return to the top division.
Leeds United, who experienced playoff final disappointment last season, are focused on a strong push for automatic promotion this year. Middlesbrough and Bristol are also contenders for the playoffs with seven games remaining.
Where to watch the Championship playoffs 2025
| Country | TV channel | Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Sky Sports | Sky GO |
| United States | CBS Sports Network | Paramount+ |
Sky Sports will broadcast all Championship playoff matches in the UK. In the US, the games will be shown on CBS Sports Network and Paramount+.
When are the 2025 Championship playoffs?
The 2025 EFL Championship playoffs are scheduled for May 2025, with the final taking place on May 24, 2025, at Wembley Stadium. The playoffs involve the teams finishing third to sixth in the Championship table, competing for a Premier League spot.
The semi-finals will be played soon after the regular season concludes on May 3, 2025. The first leg of the semi-finals usually occurs about a week after the end of the 46-game season.
When and where is the Championship playoff final 2025?
| Date: | May 24, 2025 |
| Kick-off time: | TBC |
| Venue: | Wembley Stadium, London |
The 2025 Championship play-off final will be held on May 24, 2025, at Wembley Stadium.
Wembley is a famous stadium in British sports and especially for English football. Known as 'The Home of Football', this 90,000-capacity stadium hosts many national finals, including the Football League playoff finals.
Championship playoffs 2025 fixtures & results
Semi-finals
| Date | Fixture | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| May 8 | Semi-final 1, leg 1 | Sky Sports / Paramount+ |
| May 9 | Semi-final 2, leg 1 | Sky Sports / Paramount+ |
| May 12 | Semi-final 1, leg 2 | Sky Sports / Paramount+ |
| May 13 | Semi-final 2, leg 2 | Sky Sports / Paramount+ |
Final
| Date | Fixture | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| May 24 | Semi-final 1 winner vs Semi-final 2 winner | Sky Sports / Paramount+ |
Who won the Championship playoffs in 2024?
Southampton won the 2024 Championship playoffs, returning to the Premier League with a 1-0 victory over Leeds United in the final at Wembley Stadium on May 26, 2024. Adam Armstrong scored the winning goal for Southampton, his 24th league goal of the season.
How much is winning the Championship playoffs worth?
The Championship playoff final is often called 'The Richest Game in Football' because of the large financial rewards for the winner.
The promoted team can gain at least £100 million ($120m) from TV revenue distribution in the Premier League, and potentially much more.
This amount could double if the team avoids relegation in their first Premier League season. Furthermore, Premier League status attracts numerous sponsorship opportunities.
