Major change to Championship announced that could impact Burnley next season
The Championship play-offs will be expanded to SIX teams from next season, the English Football League (EFL) has announced.
At a general meeting earlier today, clubs voted in favour of the change that will come into the effect for the 2026/27 campaign.
Given Burnley are currently sitting 19th in the Premier League and nine points adrift of safety, it’s looking highly likely they will be back in the second tier next season.
If that proves to be the case, the Clarets could finish as low as eighth in the Championship and still have a shot at promotion.
The EFL said in a statement: “The decision is intended to increase the number of competitive fixtures during the closing stages of the campaign, while also giving two additional clubs the opportunity to reach the play-off final at Wembley Stadium and progress to the Premier League.”
It means the play-offs will now consist of seven fixtures, rather than five.
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The two winners of eliminator ties will progress to the semi-finals where they will face the teams finishing third and fourth in the table. These ties will be played over two legs.
The two winning semi-finalists will then meet in the play-off final at Wembley. The exact final format will be agreed later in 2026, the EFL confirmed.
The play-off system is already in use in the National League.
EFL chief executive Trevor Birch, said: “Since their introduction in 1986/87, the play-offs have become a highlight of the domestic football calendar, capturing the drama, suspense and jeopardy that make the EFL so special.
“Following several months of discussion with clubs and other stakeholders, we are confident this change will further strengthen the Championship as a competition and give more clubs and their supporters a genuine opportunity of achieving promotion.”
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