The EFL has announced that the Sky Bet Championship play-offs will be expanded from four teams to six from next season.
Supporters of the change believe it will give more teams a chance to qualify for the post-season and gain promotion to the Premier League, creating more interest going into the Championship season. Teams from 3rd to 8th place will participate.
The National League currently operates a six-team playoff tournament, with teams finishing second and third advancing directly to the semifinals, and teams finishing fourth through seventh competing in the quarterfinals.
What would change?
The format won’t be finalized until the summer, but the expanded playoffs are expected to look like this:
The EFL’s current format – a single-leg final at Wembley followed by a two-leg semi-final – has been in place since the 1989/90 season.
The Championship play-off final is considered the most lucrative single match in world football, as qualification to the Premier League is at stake for the winner.
Sunderland were last season’s winners, beating Sheffield United 2-1. It is estimated that this success has secured the Black Cats an additional income of at least £200m.
EFL chief executive Trevor Birch said: “Since the play-offs were introduced in 1986/87, they have been a highlight of the national football calendar and represent the drama, suspense and crisis that makes the EFL so special.
“Following several months of discussions with clubs and other stakeholders, we are confident that these changes will further strengthen the Championship as a competition and give more clubs and their supporters a real opportunity to achieve promotion.”
