Championship playoffs 2026: fixtures, dates and teams in the race

The Championship is one of English football's most competitive leagues, with 24 teams fighting each season for promotion to the Premier League. The end-of-season play-off system, introduced in 1987 and settled into its current form two years later, sends the clubs finishing third to sixth into a knockout contest for one final promotion place while the top two go up automatically after 46 matches.

Semi-finals are two-legged affairs: third plays sixth and fourth meets fifth, with the higher-placed side hosting the decisive second leg. Winners are decided by aggregate score (there is no away-goals rule); ties level after the second leg go to extra time and, if required, penalties.

The two semi-final winners meet in a one-off final at Wembley, with extra time and penalties used if the match is drawn. The teams currently occupying the play-off positions are Ipswich Town (third), Hull City (fourth), Millwall (fifth) and Wrexham (sixth).

England

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