English Football League (EFL) clubs voted this week to approve a new format for the Championship play-offs that will involve six teams rather than four from the 2026-27 season. According to major media reports, plans to increase the number of teams involved in the Championship play-offs from four to six were passed overwhelmingly during an EFL vote on Thursday, with just one club voting against the idea. The new format will come into effect for the 2026-27 campaign.
Reports indicate that a majority was required from the teams in the divisions, meaning 37 was the threshold for the vote to pass. The vote reportedly finished 67 votes for, one against and one abstention, with three teams absent from the vote. The identity of those three absent teams has not been disclosed.
From a commercial, monetary and excitement aspect I can understand why people want to add teams to the play-offs - they have been a success although you can argue if team six finishes 25 points behind team three should they have a chance to go up?
According to reports, Tranmere Rovers were the only club to vote against the proposal. The specific arguments from Tranmere Rovers for voting against the proposal have not been detailed. Under the new structure, reports suggest the two-legged Championship semi-finals will remain, with teams finishing third and fourth respectively advancing.
Fifth and sixth place will reportedly play one-off home games against eighth and seventh respectively to determine who will advance to the semi-finals. After a suggestion from Doug King, Coventry City's chairman, the third-placed team will reportedly have the benefit of playing the lowest-ranked opposition to advance from those games. How the one-off home games for fifth and sixth place will be scheduled and managed logistically remains to be seen.
So, as a football purist I'm not a massive fan but I understand why clubs would be so keen for more opportunities to get this golden ticket of £150m or whatever it is.
Reaction to the change has reportedly been split with the vast majority of fans criticizing the move. Gary Rowett, the newly minted head coach of Leicester City, admits he is not a massive fan of the idea. ' The specific financial incentive mentioned by Rowett has not been confirmed.
' In contrast, Neil Warnock, the manager who has enjoyed the most success in the play-offs since they were introduced in 1987, sees some positives. Warnock stated, 'I thought it was a bad thing when it first came in but it turned into a good thing - certainly for me anyway. ' How the new format will impact the regular season competitiveness and scheduling is still unclear.
The expansion marks a significant shift in the promotion structure for one of English football's most competitive leagues.