2025–26 English Football League

127th season of the English Football League From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2025–26 English Football League is the 127th season of the English Football League (EFL) and the ninth season under that name after it was renamed from The Football League in 2016. For the 13th season, the league is sponsored by Sky Betting & Gaming and is therefore known as the Sky Bet EFL.

Season2025–26
ChampionsCoventry City
PromotedIpswich Town
RelegatedHarrogate Town
Barrow
Quick facts Season, Champions ...
English Football League
Season2025–26
ChampionsCoventry City
PromotedIpswich Town
RelegatedHarrogate Town
Barrow
New clubs in leagueBarnet
Oldham Athletic
2026–27 →
Close

The EFL is contested through three divisions: the Championship, League One and League Two. The winner and the runner-up of the Championship are automatically promoted to the Premier League and they are joined by the winner of the Championship play-off. The bottom two teams in League Two are relegated to the National League.

Promotion and relegation

Map of teams

Locations of the 2025–26 English Football League teams:
Red: Region
Blue: Championship
Yellow: League One
Green: League Two


Locations of the 2025–26 English Football League teams in Greater London
Locations of the 2025–26 English Football League teams in the West Midlands
Locations of the 2025–26 English Football League teams in South Yorkshire

Championship

This section is transcluded from 2025–26 EFL Championship. (edit | history)

Table

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Coventry City (C, P) 46 28 11 7 97 45 +52 95 Promotion to the Premier League
2 Ipswich Town (P) 46 23 15 8 80 47 +33 84
3 Millwall 46 24 11 11 64 49 +15 83 Qualification for the Championship play-offs
4 Southampton 46 22 14 10 82 56 +26 80
5 Middlesbrough 46 22 14 10 72 47 +25 80
6 Hull City 46 21 10 15 70 66 +4 73
7 Wrexham 46 19 14 13 69 65 +4 71
8 Derby County 46 20 9 17 67 59 +8 69
9 Norwich City 46 19 8 19 63 56 +7 65
10 Birmingham City 46 17 13 16 57 56 +1 64
11 Swansea City 46 18 10 18 57 59 −2 64
12 Bristol City 46 17 11 18 59 59 0 62
13 Sheffield United 46 18 6 22 66 66 0 60
14 Preston North End 46 15 15 16 55 62 −7 60
15 Queens Park Rangers 46 16 10 20 61 73 −12 58
16 Watford 46 14 15 17 53 65 −12 57
17 Stoke City 46 15 10 21 51 56 −5 55
18 Portsmouth 46 14 13 19 49 64 −15 55
19 Charlton Athletic 46 13 14 19 44 58 −14 53
20 Blackburn Rovers 46 13 13 20 42 56 −14 52
21 West Bromwich Albion 46 13 14 19 48 58 −10 51[a]
22 Oxford United (R) 46 11 14 21 45 59 −14 47 Relegation to EFL League One
23 Leicester City (R) 46 12 16 18 58 68 −10 46[b]
24 Sheffield Wednesday (R) 46 2 12 32 29 89 −60 0[c]
Close
Source: EFL Official Website
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results; 5) Wins; 6) Away goals; 7) Penalty points (sec 9.5); 8) Number of 12-point sending off offences; 9) Play-off (only if needed to determine promotion/relegation)[26]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. [a]
    West Bromwich Albion were deducted two points on 24 April 2026, due to breaching PSR rules.[21]
  2. [b]
    Leicester City were deducted six points on 5 February 2026, due to breaching PSR rules.[22] Leicester City's appeal against the points deduction was dismissed on 8 April 2026.[23]
  3. [c]
    Sheffield Wednesday were deducted twelve points due to filing for administration on 24 October 2025, then deducted a further six points on 1 December 2025 for failing to meet payment obligations.[24][25]

Results

More information Home \ Away, BIR ...
Home \ Away BIR BLA BRI CHA COV DER HUL IPS LEI MID MIL NOR OXF POR PNE QPR SHU SHW SOU STO SWA WAT WBA WRX
Birmingham City — 0–1 2–1 1–1 3–2 1–1 2–3 1–1 2–1 1–3 4–0 4–1 1–0 4–0 2–1 1–0 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–0 2–1 0–0 2–0
Blackburn Rovers 1–2 — 1–2 2–2 1–1 1–2 0–1 1–1 0–1 0–0 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–0 0–1 1–3 1–0 2–1 1–1 1–2 1–1 0–0 0–2
Bristol City 1–0 0–1 — 0–0 0–2 0–5 4–2 1–1 2–2 2–0 0–1 2–4 1–3 5–0 0–2 1–2 1–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 3–0 1–2 0–1 2–2
Charlton Athletic 1–0 3–0 1–2 — 1–1 1–2 2–1 1–2 0–1 1–2 1–1 0–1 1–0 1–3 1–2 0–0 1–0 2–1 1–5 1–0 1–1 1–0 1–0 0–1
Coventry City 3–0 2–0 1–0 3–1 — 3–2 0–0 0–2 2–1 3–1 2–1 1–1 0–0 5–1 3–0 7–1 3–1 0–0 1–2 2–1 1–0 3–1 3–2 3–1
Derby County 1–0 3–1 1–1 1–1 3–5 — 2–1 1–2 1–3 1–0 1–1 1–0 1–0 1–1 0–1 1–0 1–2 2–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–3 1–1 1–2
Hull City 1–1 0–3 2–3 1–1 0–0 4–2 — 0–2 2–1 1–4 1–3 2–1 3–2 3–2 2–2 1–3 1–0 3–1 3–1 0–1 2–1 0–0 1–0 2–0
Ipswich Town 2–1 3–0 2–0 0–3 3–0 2–2 1–0 — 1–1 2–2 1–1 3–1 2–1 2–1 1–1 3–0 5–0 3–1 1–1 1–0 3–0 1–1 1–0 0–0
Leicester City 2–0 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–0 2–1 2–2 3–1 — 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 2–3 2–1 3–4 2–1 0–1 1–2 2–1 1–1
Middlesbrough 2–1 0–0 1–1 0–1 2–4 2–1 0–1 2–1 1–1 — 1–2 1–0 0–0 0–1 4–0 3–1 1–0 1–0 4–0 0–0 1–0 5–1 2–1 1–1
Millwall 3–0 1–2 2–1 4–0 0–4 1–0 1–3 0–0 1–0 0–3 — 1–2 2–0 1–3 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–0 3–2 2–0 2–1 1–0 3–0 0–2
Norwich City 1–2 2–0 0–1 1–0 2–1 2–1 0–2 0–2 1–2 1–2 1–2 — 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–1 2–0 2–1 0–2 1–1 0–1 0–1 2–3
Oxford United 0–2 1–0 0–0 1–1 2–2 1–0 1–1 2–1 2–2 1–1 2–2 0–3 — 0–1 1–2 0–0 0–1 4–1 2–1 0–3 0–1 2–0 2–1 0–1
Portsmouth 1–1 2–1 0–1 2–1 1–2 0–1 0–1 2–0 1–0 1–0 3–1 1–2 2–2 — 1–0 1–1 0–1 0–2 1–1 0–1 1–2 2–2 3–0 0–0
Preston North End 0–1 1–2 0–0 2–0 1–1 0–1 0–3 1–0 2–1 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–0 — 1–1 3–2 3–0 1–3 3–1 2–1 2–2 0–2 1–1
Queens Park Rangers 2–1 1–3 0–0 3–1 2–1 2–3 3–2 1–4 4–1 0–4 1–2 1–2 0–0 6–1 1–1 — 0–2 3–0 1–2 1–0 1–2 2–1 3–1 2–3
Sheffield United 3–0 1–3 1–4 0–1 1–2 1–3 2–1 3–1 3–1 1–2 0–1 1–1 3–1 3–0 2–3 0–0 — 2–1 1–2 4–0 3–3 1–0 1–1 1–2
Sheffield Wednesday 0–2 0–0 0–3 1–1 0–5 0–3 2–2 0–2 1–1 0–1 1–2 1–1 1–2 0–1 2–3 1–1 0–3 — 1–3 0–3 0–2 1–1 2–1 0–1
Southampton 3–1 3–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–1 1–2 2–2 3–0 1–1 0–0 1–0 2–0 0–0 0–2 5–0 1–0 3–1 — 1–2 0–0 1–0 3–2 2–1
Stoke City 1–0 1–1 5–1 3–0 0–1 3–1 1–2 3–3 2–2 1–2 1–3 1–1 2–1 1–3 0–0 0–0 1–2 2–0 0–2 — 2–1 3–1 0–1 1–0
Swansea City 1–1 3–1 1–0 3–1 0–3 1–2 2–2 1–4 1–3 2–2 1–1 2–1 2–0 1–0 1–1 0–1 1–0 4–0 1–2 2–0 — 1–1 1–0 2–1
Watford 3–0 0–1 1–1 1–1 0–4 2–0 2–1 0–2 0–0 3–0 0–2 3–2 2–1 1–1 1–1 2–1 0–2 1–1 2–2 1–0 0–2 — 2–1 3–1
West Bromwich Albion 1–1 1–0 1–2 1–1 0–2 0–1 3–0 0–0 1–1 2–3 0–0 0–5 2–1 1–1 2–1 2–1 2–0 0–0 1–1 0–0 3–2 3–0 — 2–2
Wrexham 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–0 3–2 1–1 1–2 5–3 1–1 2–2 0–2 1–2 1–0 2–1 2–1 1–3 5–3 2–2 1–5 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–3 —
Close
Source: efl.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Play-offs

Main article: 2026 EFL play-offs

Bracket

Semi-finals Final
        
3 Millwall 0
6 Hull City 0
 
 
4 Southampton 0
5 Middlesbrough 0

Semi-finals

First leg
More information Hull City, 0–0 ...
Hull City0–0Millwall
Report
Close
Attendance: 24,623
Referee: Gavin Ward
More information Middlesbrough, 0–0 ...
Middlesbrough0–0Southampton
Report
Close
Attendance: 32,045
Referee: Farai Hallam
Second leg
More information Millwall, v ...
MillwallvHull City
Report
Close
More information Southampton, v ...
SouthamptonvMiddlesbrough
Report
Close


Championship final

Main article: 2026 EFL Championship play-off final
Quick facts TBD, Date ...
2026 EFL Championship play-off final
Wembley Stadium in London will host the final.
TBD TBD
0 0
Date23 May 2026
VenueWembley Stadium, London
← 2025
2027 →
Close

The 2026 EFL Championship play-off final is an association football match that will be played on 23 May 2026[27] to decide the final team to get promotion from the EFL Championship, the second tier of English football, to the Premier League. The top two teams of the 2025–26 EFL Championship, Coventry City and Ipswich Town, gained automatic promotion, while the clubs that placed from third to sixth – Millwall, Southampton, Middlesbrough and Hull City – are taking part in the 2026 English Football League play-offs.[28]

Route to the final

Main article: 2025–26 EFL Championship
More information Final league position – Championship, Pos ...
Final league position – Championship
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Coventry City 46 28 11 7 97 45 +52 95
2 Ipswich Town 46 23 15 8 80 47 +33 84
3 Millwall 46 24 11 11 64 49 +15 83
4 Southampton 46 22 14 10 82 56 +26 80
5 Middlesbrough 46 22 14 10 72 47 +25 80
6 Hull City 46 21 10 15 70 66 +4 73
Close

References

  1. [1]
    "Bottom three confirmed as Ipswich relegated from Premier League".
  2. [2]
    "Leicester relegated from PL after loss to Liverpool". 20 April 2025.
  3. [3]
    "Southampton: The unwanted Premier League records relegated Saints could still break in 2024/25".
  4. [4]
    "Leeds United promoted back to Premier League". 21 April 2025.
  5. [5]
    "Leeds, Burnley, Sunderland promoted to Premier League as Sheffield United slip into Championship play-offs". 21 April 2025.
  6. [6]
    O'Neill, Caoimhe (4 May 2025). "Luton were relegated – now they've been relegated again. How did it happen?". The New York Times.
  7. [7]
    "Plymouth Argyle relegated on final day of the Championship season".
  8. [8]
    "Cardiff City 0-0 West Bromwich Albion: Bluebirds relegated in draw with Baggies".
  9. [9]
    "Birmingham City promoted from League One to Sky Bet Championship". Sky Sports.
  10. [10]
    "Actor Ryan Reynolds, Wrexham one step closer to Premier League dream".
  11. [11]
    "Bristol Rovers and Crawley Town relegated from League One". 29 April 2025.
  12. [12]
    "Bristol Rovers have been relegated to League Two - this is what needs to happen". 30 April 2025.
  13. [13]
    "Burton 2-1 Cambridge: United relegated to League Two after defeat". Sky Sports.
  14. [14]
    "Shrewsbury Town: Relegation back to League Two confirmed". 18 April 2025.
  15. [15]
    "Rovers 2 Bradford City 1 - Rovers are promoted to Sky Bet League One". Doncaster Rovers FC. 26 April 2025.
  16. [16]
    "Doncaster and Port Vale promoted to League One".
  17. [17]
    "Bradford City secure promotion to League One after last minute winner". ITV News. 3 May 2025.
  18. [18]
    "AFC Wimbledon promoted with League Two Play-Off Final win". The English Football League.
  19. [19]
    "Carlisle United owner Tom Piatak 'deeply sorry' for relegation". 27 April 2025.
  20. [20]
    "Morecambe relegated to National League".
  21. [21]
    Wheeler, Dan (24 April 2026). "West Brom docked two points for financial breaches". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  22. [22]
    "Premier League Commission – Leicester City Football Club". EFL. 5 February 2026. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  23. [23]
    "Leicester lose appeal against points deduction". BBC Sport. 8 April 2026. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  24. [24]
    "Sheffield Wednesday: Championship club file for administration". Sky Sports. 24 October 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  25. [25]
    "Sheffield Wednesday handed further six-point deduction for breaching EFL regulations after going into administration". Sky Sports. 1 December 2025. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  26. [26]
    "EFL Regulations Section 3 – The League; subsection 9 – Method of Determining League Positions". English Football League. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  27. [27]
    "EFL fixture release and opening day dates for 2025/26 announced". English Football League. 28 May 2025. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  28. [28]
    Ashton, Ben. "Championship play-offs: Who is going up out of Millwall, Southampton, Middlesbrough and Hull City?". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 May 2026.

League One

League Two

Managerial changes

References

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI