The play-offs for the English championship will be expanded to six teams next season

The play-offs for the English championship will be expanded from four to six clubs from next season, officials announced on Thursday.

The change was approved by a meeting of the English Football League (EFL), the governing body for the three divisions below the Premier League.

The top two teams at the end of the regular season are still automatically promoted, with the teams finishing third through eighth heading into the play-offs.

“After several months of discussion with clubs and other stakeholders, we are confident that this change will further strengthen the Championship as a competition and give more clubs and their supporters a real chance to gain promotion,” said EFL CEO Trevor Birch.

Under the new system, teams will finish fifth to eighth in ‘eliminator’ matches.

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The winners will then face the third and fourth placed teams in two-legged semi-finals. The final format will be determined later this year.

The current format – a single-leg final at Wembley, preceded by two-leg semi-finals – has been in place since the 1989/90 season.

The Championship play-off final is considered the most lucrative match in football.

Sunderland’s victory over Sheffield United in last season’s edition was estimated to have been worth at least £200 million ($267 million) in additional revenue for the Black Cats.

Published on March 5, 2026