National League play-offs 2025: Fixtures, dates and teams in contention

There is only one route into the English Football League (EFL) and that's via the National League.

Football's fifth tier can be a cruel and merciless place but the light at the end of the tunnel is promotion to League Two. A spot within the fabled '92 Club' is as prestigious as it is difficult to come by for the residents of the National League.

The play-off system works a little differently in the National League than within the EFL, making it even more competitive and fiercely-fought.

Here is everything you need to know about the 2025 National League play-offs.

How do the National League play-offs work?

Despite there being 24 teams in the National League, only one side gains automatic promotion into the EFL. Unsurprisingly, that's the team that tops the table come the end of the 46-game season.

The six teams that finish directly below the champions (second to seventh) then compete in the play-offs. There are two initial 'quarter-finals' where fourth place takes on seventh and fifth clash with sixth. These matches are one-off games that take place at the home ground of the side that finishes higher in the regular season.

The winners of those two deciders qualify for the play-off semi-finals where the winner of fourth vs seventh takes on the side that finished second in the regular season and the winner of fifth vs sixth plays the team that finished third overall in the National League.

Again, these are one-legged ties hosted by the sides that finished higher in the division and the winners of the two semis clash in the final at Wembley Stadium. The victor in the showpiece event secures promotion to League Two for the following campaign.

If any match in the National League play-offs finishes as a draw, extra-time and penalties will be used to decide the winner.

When are the 2025 National League play-offs?

There are plenty of matches to squeeze into the National League play-offs, with eliminator duels (5th vs 6th and 4th vs 7th) taking place on 14-15 May.

The semi-finals will then be staged on 20-21 May, before the final itself which will be hosted by Wembley Stadium on Sunday 1 June.

Which teams are in contention for the 2025 National League play-offs?

Barnet are the runaway league leaders after an impressive campaign and look destined to be the only side that will secure automatic promotion to the EFL. They have been unsuccessful play-off entrants during the last two seasons.

York City and Forest Green Rovers have enjoyed pretty eye-catching seasons themselves but will seemingly have to accept a play-off berth bar any late implosion from Barnet. The former has been out of the EFL since 2015/16 and the latter is aiming for an instant return to the fourth tier.

There is a sizeable gap between third and the rest of the chasing pack, with ex-Premier League outfit Oldham among those well-placed to finish in the top seven. Gateshead and Halifax Town are also in strong positions.

Rochdale, Altrincham, Eastleigh and Southend United are all candidates for play-off spots, too.

2024/25 National League table

How much is winning the National League play-off final worth?

Promotion to League Two has huge financial benefits for clubs as they are then able to earn basic prize money from the EFL. They also receive a solidarity payment from the Premier League which is worth approximately £1m.

Once reaching the EFL, there is also a boost in TV revenue and often matchday ticket sales.

Who has the best National League play-offs record?

In 23 past National League play-offs (including prior to the competition's rebranding in 2016), only one side has won the final on more than one occasion: Grimsby Town. They have triumphed twice, most recently in 2022.

Some of the biggest clubs to have won the National League play-off final include Notts County, Bristol Rovers, AFC Wimbledon and Doncaster Rovers.

READ MORE ON THE PLAY-OFF HUNT ACROSS THE EFL