Championship play-offs 2022: Fixtures, dates & teams in the race to the Premier League

Disclaimer: Real trophy may not actually be this size
Disclaimer: Real trophy may not actually be this size / Catherine Ivill/GettyImages
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The Championship season is now done for another year. Fulham are champions and can start preparing for life in the Premier League once again, with Bournemouth joining them back in the top flight.

But the real question is, who will take the final spot?

For that answer, we have to turn to the play-offs. It's been a real battle to get there, with plenty of teams still in the race, but at the end of the day, only four could make it: Huddersfield, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United and Luton.

Here's all you need to know about the final scramble to the Premier League.


When are the 2022 Championship play-offs?

The Championship's regular season ended on Saturday 7 May, with the play-offs commencing a week later.

2021/22 Championship play-off semi-finals

  • 13 May 2022 - Luton 1-1 Huddersfield (19:45)
  • 14 May 2022 - Sheffield United 1-2 Nottingham Forest (15:00)
  • 16 May 2022 - Huddersfield 1-0 Luton (19:45)
  • 17 May 2022 - Nottingham Forest 1-2 Sheffield United (3-2 on pens) (19:45)

2021/22 Championship play-off final

29 May 2022 - Huddersfield vs Nottingham Forest (16:30)


Which teams qualified for the 2022 Championship play-offs?

Fulham romped to the title in emphatic fashion, with Aleksander Mitrovic shattering goalscoring records in the process. They finished two points ahead of Bournemouth, who took the final automatic promotion spot.

Huddersfield finished third on the final day of the season, leapfrogging Nottingham Forest after Steve Cooper's side could only draw 1-1 with Hull. They took the lead in the 92nd minute but were pegged back before the final whistle.

In fifth, Sheffield United produced a surprise on the final day of the campaign as they thumped champions Fulham 4-0 - a result which ensured they stayed ahead of Luton, who snuck in sixth.

Luton ended up having a five-point cushion over nearest challengers Middlesbrough, whose promotion hopes crumbled to pieces as they lost 4-1 to Preston on the final day.

Championship final standings

1) Fulham (P), P46, 90pts
2) Bournemouth (P), P46, 88pts
3) Huddersfield, P46, 80pts
4) Nottingham Forest, P46, 80pts
5) Sheffield United, P46, 75pts
6) Luton, P46, 75pts
7) Middlesbrough, P46, 70pts
8) Blackburn, P46, 69pts
9) Millwall, P46, 69pts


2022 Championship play-offs prize money

Placing an exact number on the money given to the Championship play-off winners.

In 2021, football finance experts Deloitte estimated the promoted team would stand to earn additional revenues of at least £170m, though the figure could rise to in excess of £280m.

This year, however, the final will be worth even more. There has been an increase in both UK-based and overseas broadcasting revenue for the 2022/23 season, meaning the Premier League champions will earn £176m in prize money. That increase will drip down the table, rewarding newly promoted teams who do well in the top flight. But even if they don't succeed, they are still guaranteed a much bigger share of the broadcast revenue pie than they would receive in the Championship.


How to watch the 2022 Championship play-offs

The play-off final will be shown by Sky Sports in the United Kingdom. In the United States, ESPN and BAMTech hold the rights to show Championship matches.