2026 EFL play-offs
Football league season
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The English Football League play-offs for the 2025–26 season (referred to as the Sky Bet Play-Offs for sponsorship reasons) is being held in May 2026 with all finals being staged at Wembley Stadium in London.[1][2]
 Wembley Stadium will be the venue for each play-off final | |
| Season | 2025–26 |
|---|---|
← 2025 2027 → | |
The play-offs begin in each league with two semi-finals which were played over two legs. The teams who finished in 3rd to 6th place in the Championship and League One and the 4th to 7th-placed teams in League Two competed. The winners of the semi-finals advanced to the finals, with the winners gaining promotion for the following season.
Background
The English Football League play-offs have been held every year since 1987. They take place for each division following the conclusion of the regular season and are contested by the four clubs finishing below the automatic promotion places. The fixtures are determined by final league position – in the Championship and League One this is 3rd v 6th and 4th v 5th, while in League Two it is 4th v 7th and 5th v 6th.
Championship
Championship semi-finals
The final table was confirmed after the final matchday on 2 May 2026. Going into the final day, Southampton had already confirmed a place in the play-offs at fifth place. Southampton leapfrogged Middlesbrough after the Saints beat Preston North End and Middlesbrough drew 2–2 against Wrexham. Ipswich, Millwall and Middlesbrough all had the opportunity to finish in second place with Ipswich occupying it at the start of the day. Ipswich won their match which meant Millwall and Middlesbrough have their playoff places confirmed. Hull City, Wrexham and Derby County were all in the hunt for the last spot. Hull City leapfrogged Wrexham after their win against ninth place Norwich, and help from fourth place Middlesbrough who held Wrexham to a 2–2 draw. Derby County lost 2–1 to 13th place Sheffield United, eliminating them from play-off contention.
| Final league position – Championship | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 3 | Millwall | 46 | 24 | 11 | 11 | 64 | 48 | +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 |
- First leg
- Second leg
Hull City won 2–0 on aggregate
| Southampton | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Middlesbrough |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
Southampton won 2–1 on aggregate. Middlesbrough advanced to the final after Southampton were disqualified for spying on other teams (see Spygate scandal). The walkover for Middlesbrough is subject to an appeal.[3]
Championship final
The winner of this match will join champions Coventry City and automatically promoted Ipswich Town in playing in the 2026–27 Premier League.
League One
League One semi-finals
The final table was confirmed after the final matchday on 3 May 2026. Going into the final day, Bolton Wanderers had already qualified for the play-offs.
On the final day Stockport County, Bradford City, Stevenage, Luton Town, and Plymouth Argyle were all chasing a play-off spot. Stockport and Bradford both won and leapfrogged 3rd place Bolton, who lost to play off hopefuls Luton. Plymouth won as well, but as Stevenage also won it meant they qualified in the final spot at the expense of Luton and Plymouth. And so on the final day, everyone except the already qualified Bolton won (which caused them to drop from 3rd to 5th and end up losing the home advantage).
| Final league position – League One | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 3 | Stockport County | 46 | 22 | 11 | 13 | 71 | 58 | +13 | 77 |
| 4 | Bradford City | 46 | 22 | 11 | 13 | 58 | 51 | +7 | 77 |
| 5 | Bolton Wanderers | 46 | 19 | 18 | 9 | 70 | 52 | +18 | 75 |
| 6 | Stevenage | 46 | 21 | 12 | 13 | 49 | 46 | +3 | 75 |
- First leg
| Stevenage | 0−1 | Stockport County |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
- Second leg
Stockport County won 3-0 on aggregate
Bolton Wanderers won 2-0 on aggregate
League One final
The winner of this match will join champions Lincoln City and automatically promoted Cardiff City in playing in the 2026–27 EFL Championship.
League Two
League Two semi-finals
The final table was confirmed after the final matchday on 2 May 2026. Going into the final day, Cambridge United, Salford City, Notts County, and Grimsby Town had already secured a play-off place but only Cambridge United and Salford City could still gain automatic promotion. Cambridge United clinched the last automatic spot as both teams drew, consigning Salford City to the playoffs. Chesterfield, Swindon Town, and Barnet were all in contention for the last play-off spot. Barnet won against relegation battling Harrogate Town condemning them to relegation, but Chesterfield beat Swindon Town eliminating them both in the process and leapfrogging Grimsby Town who had already qualified with Chesterfield and Swindon Town playing each other on the final matchday.
| Final league position – League Two | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 4 | Salford City | 46 | 25 | 6 | 15 | 61 | 51 | +10 | 81 |
| 5 | Notts County | 46 | 24 | 8 | 14 | 74 | 52 | +22 | 80 |
| 6 | Chesterfield | 46 | 21 | 16 | 9 | 71 | 56 | +15 | 79 |
| 7 | Grimsby Town | 46 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 74 | 50 | +24 | 78 |
- First leg
| Chesterfield | 0−1 | Notts County |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
- Second leg
Salford City won 4-3 on aggregate
Notts County won 1-0 on aggregate
League Two final
The winner of this match will join champions Bromley and automatically promoted Milton Keynes Dons and Cambridge United in playing in the 2026–27 EFL League One.