Championship play-offs 2024: Dates, fixtures and qualified teams
- Championship play-off final regarded as the most lucrative game in football
- Four clubs compete in Championship post-season
- Leeds United have had to settle for the play-offs after finishing third
By Euan Burns
The English Football League (EFL) play-offs provide unfiltered chaos at the end of every season, with the magnitude of these fixtures ensuring that some of the sport's most memorable moments have taken place under a sun-kissed Wembley arch.
The Championship play-offs boast particular significance. For four clubs, it's their last chance to earn a spot at the top table, with the final possessing a remarkable allure of lucrativeness as the dubbed 'richest game in football'.
It's a contest that has grabbed the imagination of not only Championship enjoyers, but football lovers in general.
Here's all you need to know about the 2023/24 Championship play-offs that will lead to one team earning their golden ticket to the Premier League.
Championship play-offs 2024
- Which teams have qualified for the 2023/24 Championship play-offs?
- Final 2023/24 Championship table
- How do the Championship play-offs work?
- When are the 2024 Championship play-offs?
- How to watch the 2024 Championship play-offs
- Who has the best record in Championship play-offs?
- How much is winning Championship play-off final worth?
Which teams have qualified for the 2023/24 Championship play-offs?
With the regular season having now come to an end, Leicester City have won the Championship title and secured their return to the Premier League. Ipswich Town also booked a long-awaited return to the top flight on the final day of the season, meaning Leeds United will have to settle for a play-off spot after coming third.
Leeds will be joined in the post-season by Southampton, who secured their place in the play-offs some time ago. West Brom ensured they finished fifth with their victory against Preston on the final day, while Norwich City claimed sixth spot.
2023/24 Championship play-offs qualified teams
Team | Position |
|---|---|
Leeds United | 3rd |
Southampton | 4th |
West Bromwich Albion | 5th |
Norwich City | 6th |
Final 2023/24 Championship table
Pos | Team | Played | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
C | Leicester | 46 | +48 | 97 |
P. | Ipswich Town | 46 | +35 | 96 |
PO | Leeds | 46 | +38 | 90 |
PO | Southampton | 46 | +24 | 87 |
PO | West Brom | 46 | +23 | 75 |
PO | Norwich | 46 | +15 | 73 |
7. | Hull | 46 | +8 | 70 |
8. | Middlesbrough | 46 | +9 | 69 |
How do the Championship play-offs work?
Three teams are promoted from the Championship into the Premier League every season. The league winners and runners-up are automatically promoted, while the third team is decided via the play-offs.
The teams that finish between third and sixth in the second tier qualify for the play-offs. Third faces sixth and fourth plays fifth over two legs, home and away, with the two winners advancing into the final.
In each of the ties, the team that finished higher in the Championship table will host the second leg in the semi-finals.
When are the 2024 Championship play-offs?
After the final round of Championship fixtures took place on Saturday 4 May, the play-offs begin on Sunday 12 May with the first legs of the two semi-finals.
The first semi-final second leg is scheduled for the evening of Thursday 16 May, with the other taking place the following night.
The two winners of the semi-finals will then advance into the final at Wembley which will take place at 16:30 on Sunday 26 May.
2024 Championship play-offs schedule
Date | Kick-off Time (BST) | Fixture | Play-off stage |
|---|---|---|---|
Sunday 12 May | 12:00 | Norwich 0-0 Leeds | Semi-final first leg |
Sunday 12 May | 14:15 | West Brom 0-0 Southampton | Semi-final first leg |
Thursday 16 May | 20:00 | Leeds vs Norwich | Semi-final second leg |
Friday 17 May | 20:00 | Southampton vs West Brom | Semi-final second leg |
Sunday 26 May | 16:30 | Leeds or Norwich vs Southampton or West Brom | Final |
How to watch the 2024 Championship play-offs
Sky Sports has televised Championship games all season and will broadcast every play-off fixture live on their channels - Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football. For those on the move, Sky GO will also broadcast the Championship play-off fixtures.
Over in the US, the subscription service ESPN+ will stream all five upcoming fixtures.
Who has the best record in Championship play-offs?
No team has earned promotion into the top flight via the Championship play-offs more than Crystal Palace.
The Eagles have established themselves as Premier League regulars over the past decade since their most recent play-off success under Ian Holloway in 2013, having previously been regarded as somewhat of a yo-yo club. Palace's victory over Watford, who qualified for the final off the back of the notorious "HERE'S HOGG...DEENEYYYYYYY!!!!" sequence, was their fourth play-off final success.
Only five other teams have won multiple play-off finals: Fulham, West Ham, Hull, Swindon and Watford.
How much is winning Championship play-off final worth?
This fixture is seismic for so many reasons and the finances involved have rendered it 'the richest game in football'.
Ahead of the 2022/23 final between Coventry and Luton, accounting firm Deloitte estimated the winner would earn a revenue increase of over £170m during the following three seasons, even if they drop back down to the second tier thanks to parachute payments the Premier League hands out to relegated clubs. Just one season in the Premier League can boost revenue streams by at least £90m.
READ MORE ON THE 2023/24 PLAY-OFF HUNT THROUGHOUT THE EFL
manual