Championship play-offs 2025: Fixtures, dates and teams in contention
- 2024/25 Championship season is coming to a close
- 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 the first legs staged on 8-9 May. The return fixtures will be played on 12-13 May.
The Championship play-off final, which will be held at Wembley Stadium, will take place on Saturday 24 May.
Which teams are in contention for the 2025 Championship play-offs?
With the end of the Championship season nearing, the play-off picture is becoming increasingly clear. Leeds United and Burnley are the sides that have pulled clear at the summit and both are close to securing automatic promotion back to the Premier League. Sheffield United could still upset the party for one of them, but look increasingly likely to feature in the play-offs.
Sunderland will fall short of the division's leading trio but have cemented their place in the play-offs following an impressive campaign. The Black Cats are aiming to return to the top flight for the first time since 2016/17.
Frank Lampard's arrival at Coventry City has changed their fortunes and the Midlands club are in a strong position to make the play-offs. They were agonisingly beaten on penalties during the 2023 final.
The life of a Bristol City supporter is rarely too dramatic - for good or bad - but they look likely to qualify for this year's play-offs. They have finished outside the top six for the last nine seasons but it appears they will better competitors West Bromwich Albion, Middlesbrough and Millwall.
2024/25 Championship table
Pos | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | +/- | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Leeds | 42 | 25 | 13 | 4 | 82:29 | +53 | 88 |
2. | Burnley | 42 | 24 | 16 | 2 | 57:13 | +44 | 88 |
3. | Sheffield United* | 42 | 26 | 7 | 9 | 57:33 | +24 | 83 |
4. | Sunderland | 42 | 21 | 13 | 8 | 57:38 | +19 | 76 |
5. | Bristol City | 42 | 16 | 16 | 10 | 54:45 | +9 | 64 |
6. | Coventry | 41 | 18 | 8 | 15 | 58:53 | +5 | 62 |
7. | West Brom | 42 | 14 | 18 | 10 | 51:39 | +12 | 60 |
8. | Middlesbrough | 42 | 17 | 9 | 16 | 61:51 | +10 | 60 |
9. | Millwall | 42 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 41:41 | 0 | 60 |
10, | Blackburn | 42 | 16 | 8 | 18 | 45:45 | 0 | 56 |
*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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