English Premier League is amongst the most followed and most commercially successful sporting leagues in the world. At its core, it remains a competitive sport, and thus, unfortunately for some, the three lowest-seeded teams after each season are relegated to the EFL Championship. In their place come the three best teams from the EFL Championship. The two top seeds and the winner of the EFL Championship Playoffs & the Final rise to the top rank of the English football pyramid. Let’s look at how the system works, who the contenders are and what’s what, regarding these playoffs.
How do the EFL Championship Playoffs work?
The top two seeds qualify for the Premier League promotion automatically. However, the Playoffs are in place to determine the 3rd team to be promoted.
The Format
This is why every point matters. Only teams seeded from 3rd to 6th are invited to participate in a four-team tournament that happens in two stages. The mini-tournament starts with a semi-final, and the winners of those meet in Wembley for the final.
| Stage | Teams | Format |
| Semi-Finals | Table seeds: 3rd vs 6th, & 4th vs 5th | 2 legs (home and away) *no away goals rule |
| Finals | Winners of two semi-finals legs | One match, winner-takes-all at the Wembley |
Key things to know
- Two-legged Semi-finals. Each semi-final is played over two legs, just like the Champions League, with home and away games for each team. The team that scores the most aggregate goals over the two matches advances to the final.
- There is no away goals rule. As is popular, the away goals rule does not apply in the EFL Championship playoffs. If teams are level on aggregate after the second leg of the semi-finals, the match goes to extra time and could go to penalties even if the 2nd leg is currently 3-0, but the teams are tied on aggregate.
- Final. The apex of the Championship playoffs is reached on a single, winner-takes-all match held at Wembley Stadium. The victor gets promoted to the Premier League and receives the prestige that comes with it. The loser can try again next year…
The EFL Championship Playoffs are very intense, and the final is dubbed the richest game in football, with some estimates claiming that the financial benefit of winning the game is worth close to £100 million. Other estimates list the figure of around £170 million during the following 3 seasons.
Due to a single leg, the final can be very unpredictable, often hailed as one of the most dramatic fixtures on the football calendar. Stakes can’t get much higher than this…
EFL Championship Playoffs for 2024 – Predictions
As of the day that this article was written, the teams contending for the EFL Championship Playoffs are:
- Ipswich Town or Leeds United (the fight for the 2nd spot is still active)
- Southampton
- West Bromwich Albion
- Norwich City and Hull City are battling for the 6th spot
Leicester City seems in the clear and should close out the title. Traditionally, the higher seeds do have an advantage. Still, the playoffs can get favourites to bog down in uncomfortable matchups and lose a tactical battle despite having the stronger lineup on paper.
Our predictions lead us to believe that Ipswich or Leeds (whoever finishes 3rd) will be a slight step above their rivals. However, Southampton could catch their stride at the right time. In other eyes, you could also understand why fans would think WBA has the right tools for the job. If you were to bet on outright promotion, here are the odds you’d be getting:
- Leeds – 0.28/1
- Ipswich Town – 0.44/1
- Southampton – 1.6/1
- West Bromwich Albion – 5.4/1
- Norwich City – 6/1
- Hull City – 49/1
EFL Championship Playoff Tickets for 2024
If you’re an avid supporter of one of these teams or are eager to see a live high-level football spectacle, you could buy tickets for the EFL Championship playoffs.
Tickets for the 2024 EFL Championship Playoff Final, which is set to be held at Wembley Stadium in London, vary in price and availability. You can expect to find tickets ranging from approximately £240 to £840, depending on the seating area and timing of purchase. In the VIP sections and hospitality, tickets start from ~£2,600. Tickets (except the hospitality selections) are sold via competing clubs.
Prices can fluctuate based on demand and the significance of the match, especially as the event nears and the competing teams are decided. However, the 75,000 to 90,000 seats are likely to be all but sold out.
Additionally, trusted resale platforms like FanSeats and Seat-Compare offer secure online purchasing options. If you wait until the last moment, you might be stuck with whatever seating options are left. Monitor these platforms regularly or sign up for notifications to be alerted when tickets go on sale to ensure you don’t miss the 2024 Sky Bet Championship playoffs and the final.