Championship play-offs 2025: Fixtures, dates and teams in contention
- 2024/25 Championship season is officially underway
- Play-offs will take place at the end of the campaign
- Southampton won last season's play-off final at Wembley
The Championship play-offs always produce some of the most dramatic and bizarre moments in a season as teams desperately duel for a place in the fabled Premier League.
The fight to earn a spot in the play-offs is ferocious enough in one of the world's most unpredictable divisions, but the temperature level rises a few more degrees at the end of every season when the play-offs actually commence.
The final itself is dubbed 'the richest game in football' and often attracts millions of viewers every year, many of whom haven't watched a second of Championship football across the season. It's simply box office.
Here's all you need to know about the 2025 Championship play-offs.
Championship play-offs 2025
How do the Championship play-offs work?
The Championship play-offs involve the four teams who finish below the two automatic promotion winners competing in a series of matches. The sides ranked from third to sixth qualify for the play-offs at the end of the campaign.
Third place meets sixth and fourth faces fifth in two play-off semi-finals, with both sides playing one of two legs at their home ground. The side that finishes higher in the division plays the second leg of the semi-final on home soil to offer them an advantage.
The winner of the each semi-final is decided by the aggregate score over the two legs, with the away goal rule not in use. If the aggregate score is tied after the end of the second leg, extra-time and penalties are played to determine a victor.
Each semi-final winner progresses to the Championship play-off final where they will meet in a standalone match at Wembley Stadium. If a winner cannot be decided over regulation time, extra-time and penalties are employed again.
The winner of the final then qualifies for the Premier League the following season, with Southampton the most recent beneficiaries of the play-offs in 2023/24.
When are the Championship play-offs?
The Championship play-offs always take place shortly after the end of the regular season. The English Football League (EFL) have confirmed that the final Championship matches this term will be played on 3 May 2025.
There will be a short break between the last games of the Championship season and the beginning of the semi-finals, with no dates yet confirmed. However, the first leg of the semi-final usually takes place approximately a week after the end of the 46-game campaign.
There is no definitive date for the 2025 Championship play-off final yet, but the match will be played between 24-26 May 2025.
Which teams are in contention for the 2025 Championship play-offs?
It's too early to tell which four sides will qualify for the 2024/25 play-offs but some strong teams will undoubtedly be near the top of the table come the end of the season. Of course, the three recently relegated sides - Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton Town - will all fancy their chances of returning to the Premier League. Rob Edwards' Hatters, however, have started the season poorly and look unlikely to make good on their potential.
Leeds United lost in last season's play-off final and will be fighting for automatic promotion again this term. Norwich City and West Bromwich Albion were the other qualifiers for the 2023/24 play-offs.
Middlesbrough are ones to watch out for after a promising 2023/24 season, while Watford, Blackburn Rovers, Swansea City and Millwall are among the teams currently in and around the play-off spots.
Sunderland had been league leaders but have since been overtaken following a series of disappointing results. The Black Cats will be eager to return to their early season form soon.
2024/25 Championship table
Pos | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | +/- | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Leeds | 20 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 36:14 | +22 | 41 |
2. | Sheffield United* | 19 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 27:11 | +16 | 39 |
3. | Burnley | 20 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 24:7 | +17 | 38 |
4. | Sunderland | 20 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 29:15 | +14 | 37 |
5. | Blackburn | 19 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 23:17 | +6 | 34 |
6. | Middlesbrough | 20 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 34:25 | +9 | 31 |
7. | Watford | 18 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 26:24 | +2 | 30 |
8. | West Brom | 19 | 6 | 11 | 2 | 21:14 | +7 | 29 |
9. | Swansea | 20 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 21:19 | +2 | 27 |
10, | Norwich | 20 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 35:30 | +5 | 26 |
*Sheffield Utd were docked two points before the 2024/25 season got underway
How much is winning the Championship play-off final worth?
Winning the Championship play-off final can be transformative for a club financially. In fact, Deloitte claimed Southampton earned a staggering £170m by winning promotion via the play-offs in 2023/24, with that figure potentially rising to £305m if the Saints avoid relegation after their first season in the Premier League.
Clubs receive far more in TV money when they are promoted to the Premier League but are also guaranteed parachute payments if they get relegated. When Southampton were demoted from the top flight in the 2022/23 season, they earned £103.6m in parachute payments. This helps protect clubs after increased spending during their time in the Premier League.
Who has the best record in the Championship play-offs?
Crystal Palace are the most successful side in Championship play-off history, winning a record four finals over the years - most recently in 2013. A number of teams have won the final twice, including the likes of West Ham United, Watford and Fulham.
The biggest losers in Championship play-off finals are Sheffield United, Derby County and Reading, each of whom have been defeated in the showpiece event on three separate occasions.
READ MORE ON THE PLAY-OFF HUNT ACROSS THE EFL
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