How the EFL Championship works — promotion, relegation and the cups

The EFL Championship is England’s second‑tier professional league: a 24‑team competition that runs from August to May and decides which clubs move up to the Premier League or down to League One, while its clubs also compete in the major domestic cup competitions.

Teams and fixtures:

The Championship is contested by 24 clubs. Each club plays every other club twice (home and away), giving a 46‑match league season for each team. Matches typically run from August through May.

Points and ranking:

A win earns three points, a draw one point and a loss zero. League positions are determined first by total points, then goal difference and goals scored; the EFL’s regulations set out further tie‑breakers for very rare cases.

Promotion:

Three clubs are promoted to the Premier League each season. The teams finishing first and second gain automatic promotion. The third promotion place is decided by the Championship play‑offs, contested by the clubs finishing 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th.

Play‑off format:

The play‑offs consist of two two‑legged semi‑finals (3rd v 6th and 4th v 5th), with the higher‑placed side hosting the second leg. Aggregate ties after the second leg go to extra time and, if required, penalties; the away‑goals rule does not apply. The semi‑final winners meet in a one‑off final — usually at Wembley Stadium — for the final promotion slot. The play‑off final is a high‑stakes match both sporting and financially.

Relegation:

The three clubs finishing at the bottom of the table (positions 22–24) are relegated to EFL League One at the end of the season.

FA Cup:

Championship clubs enter the FA Cup at the Third Round Proper, typically in early January — the same stage as Premier League clubs. The FA Cup is open to clubs across the football pyramid, so Championship sides can draw lower‑league opponents or top‑flight teams as they progress.

EFL Cup (League Cup):

Open to the 92 clubs in the Premier League and the English Football League, most Championship clubs enter the EFL Cup in Round One. The competition’s structure includes byes for some clubs (for example, Premier League teams involved in European competition), and in a few seasons a small number of Championship clubs may receive byes into Round Two to balance the draw. Early rounds are single‑leg ties (with regionalization in some phases); the semi‑finals are two legs and the final is at Wembley. The EFL Cup can provide a route into European qualification depending on the season’s allocations.

EFL Trophy:

This cup is primarily for League One and League Two clubs and includes invited under‑21 academy teams from Category One Premier League and Championship clubs. Full Championship first teams do not take part; however, invited Championship academies may field U21 sides in the competition’s group stage and knockouts.

Other competitions:

Championship clubs’ youth teams compete in the FA Youth Cup and clubs often play domestic pre‑season friendlies and invitational tournaments. Championship clubs do not play in European competitions unless promoted to the Premier League or qualifying via a domestic cup in a given season.

Fixture load: Expect a long, physically demanding schedule — 46 league games plus cup ties. Squad rotation and depth are important across the season.

Play‑offs timing and intensity: Play‑offs occur after the regular season in May. They attract intense media coverage, large attendances and significant financial stakes for the winners.

Cup entry timing and byes: Cup entry rounds and any byes can be adjusted season to season to accommodate scheduling pressures; official competition notices published each summer confirm the exact entry list and round dates.

The Championship is widely regarded as a highly competitive second tier: it combines a long league campaign, narrow margins in the table and a dramatic, winner‑takes‑all play‑off that can transform a club’s finances and plans overnight. For fans new to the competition, the FA Cup third round is a convenient moment to see Championship clubs matched with Premier League sides, while the league itself offers week‑to‑week interest from promotion chases to relegation battles.

- Teams: 24

- League matches per club: 46

- Promotion places: 3 (2 automatic + 1 via play‑offs)

- Relegation places: 3 (bottom three to League One)

- FA Cup entry: Third Round (typically early January)

- Typical season: August–May

In short, the Championship combines a grueling league schedule with knockout cup opportunities and a play‑off climax that makes promotion both a sporting and economic turning point. New followers should watch for the long‑season demands, the late‑season intensity of the play‑offs and the FA Cup third round as a showcase for Championship clubs.