Championship vs Premier League: What’s the Difference?

The English Football League (EFL) pyramid is one of the most detailed professional football structures covering the breadth of the country. The Premier League is the first tier, while the Championship is the second level. 

Despite the promotion and relegation link, the Championship vs Premier League comparisons stop there.

Ultimately, there are substantial differences in revenue streams, season formats, and league structures. This guide uncovers the formats of each and draws some concrete conclusions too.

Premier League vs Championship at a Glance

The following comparison table provides a quick overview of the Championship vs Premier League:

*The Premier League season stretches 38 games featuring 20 teams, while the Championship campaign sees 24 sides take in 46 matches.

Also, three teams go up from the Championship at the end of the regular season, with one promoted via the play-offs. The Premier League doesn’t have play-offs, so the three sides come the end of the season are demoted to England’s second tier.

 

What Is the Main Difference Between Championship and Premier League?

The fundamental difference between the two divisions is the levels of importance attached. The Premier League is viewed as the pinnacle of English football, with the Championship immediately below it.

When framing the Championship vs Premier League, it is worth considering these factors:

• Clubs are connected through promotion and relegation. Three teams go up each season from the Championship to the top tier, while three teams head the other way from the Premier League. 
• Both divisions are extremely competitive and unpredictable as any team can beat another.
• Commercial revenues generated by the Premier League normally dwarf its Championship counterpart. This is partly due to lucrative partnerships established by the Premier League, and with a greater worldwide audience, the Premier League is a bigger commercial vehicle.
• Championship clubs can continue to co-ordinate front-of-shirt sponsorship deals with betting companies, offering an important revenue stream. In the Premier League, front-of-shirt deals with betting sites were discontinued from the start of the 2026/27 season after top-flight clubs collectively agreed to a ban.
• The Championship’s drama centres around the play-off, which is worth a considerable sum of money to the winner.

 

Where They Sit in the English Football Pyramid

Here is a quick diagram illustrating all four levels of the EFL pyramid:

Premier League

↓

Championship

↓

League One

↓

League Two

Here’s how the pyramid works in terms of connectivity:

• Premier League – Three teams are demoted to the Championship.
• Championship – Three teams are promoted to the Premier League and the three lowest-placed teams drop down a tier.
• League One – The top two are automatically promoted to the Championship along with one from the play-offs. The bottom four are relegated.
• League Two – The top three are automatically promoted, with a fourth club promoted through the play-offs. The bottom two go down to the National League which is non-league.

 

Championship vs Premier League Format

The Championship and Premier League are fast-paced and unrelenting in terms of schedules. Games take place weekly or even twice a week, running typically from August to May.

Apart from international breaks, the Premier League and Championship captivate the attention of fans across the country. Let’s look at both formats:

Number of Teams

• The Premier League has 20 clubs. Up until the 1994/5 season, there were 22 outfits, but this was trimmed to 20 the following campaign, and it has stayed the same ever since.
• The Championship has 24 clubs, and this is the same for League One and Two. 

Number of Matches

Each Premier League club contests 38 matches per season. As one team can’t face themselves, 19 clubs play home and away (19×2 = 38).

Each Championship club plays 46 regular-season league matches which covers home and away fixtures. This is calculated as follows (23×2 = 46).

Given the Championship features more teams, clubs have a denser schedule. However, both leagues have to contend with fixture pile-ups at points across the season, and this places greater demands on clubs with smaller squads.

Points System

This is one area where both leagues mirror the same structure. Points are allocated as such:

• 3 points for a win.
• 1 point for a draw.
• 0 points for a defeat.

 

Promotion and Relegation Between Championship and Premier League

Promotion and relegation are two core elements of the top tiers of the English football pyramid, and the stakes are high. This section references the direct connection involving promotion and relegation between the Championship and the Premier League.

How Championship Teams Get Promoted to Premier League

The top two teams are automatically promoted to the Premier League, and that has been a constant feature of the league’s format.

A third team will join them via the play-offs. In another section, the change in play-off structure has been discussed further.

How Premier League Teams Are Relegated

Teams that finish 18th to 20th in the Premier League will drop through the trap door into the Championship.

To fill the void, three Championship teams come up to replace them. Some teams in the past have yo-yoed between the two divisions, and Burnley are a prime example. They have often proved to be too good for the Championship, but then struggled in the Premier League and gone straight back down.

Championship Play-Off Final

Previously, four teams qualified for the Championship play-off semi-finals, and these were the teams that finished third to sixth in the regular season.

After a rule change brought in for the 2026/27 season, six teams will qualify for the play-offs, covering third through to eighth. Teams who finish third and fourth will automatically make the semi-finals, while teams in fifth to eighth face two eliminator ties.

The winners of the eliminator ties advance to the semi-finals to face third and fourth in two-legged ties. The second leg will be at home to the side that finishes higher up the league. Importantly, the third-placed team will face the lowest-ranking side in the semi-finals.

The final itself is one of the most prestigious in football, but a ticket to the Premier League for the third promoted club is priceless. 

 

Championship vs Premier League Playing Standard

The difference in Championship vs Premier League standards is evident, but it is based on the following elements:

• The Premier League has a greater concentration of internationally established players. Through a sophisticated scouting network, the Premier League tends to pluck the top stars.
• Generally speaking, Premier League clubs, especially those in the ‘Big Six’, have greater spending power, and can invest more in strengthening their respective squads.
• The Championship still remains a highly competitive league. No teams are afforded guarantees, and promotion to the Premier League often goes right down to the wire.
• Newly promoted clubs from the Championship, in some cases, are entering the unknown. Often, they need time to transition and adapt to a different level of opposition. In some instances, this can be more chastening for some teams.
• There can be distinct differences in tactical execution between the Premier League and Championship, especially when it comes to set-up and attacking transitions.

Squad Depth

Across a full season, squad depth is crucial. While some Championship sides have to rotate frequently, the same could be said of the Premier League’s established superpowers. 

Some top-flight sides may compete on multiple fronts, and squad depth is greater to deal with playing in domestic and European cup competitions. Football is a squad game, so players need to step up if a team-mate faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines through injury.

Style and Competitiveness

The contrasting styles of Premier League and Championship teams make for fascinating viewing. Some sides may be better sitting in a low-block and countering quickly, while other teams may prefer to press high and chase the ball in packs.

Either way, both competitions share similarities in terms of physicality and directness, and therefore it would be unwise to tarnish one or create stereotypes.

 

Premier League vs Championship Season Schedule

The Premier League and Championship are both intense in their own ways, and the volume of fixtures matters, as shown below:

• Championship clubs play eight more (46) regular matches than their Premier League counterparts (38), exerting greater pressure on teams.
• Midweek league fixtures are more common in the Championship as games can move due to weather or cup commitments.
• Clubs in both leagues can participate in domestic cup competitions, meaning there is a need to rotate.
• Premier League clubs can also qualify for UEFA competitions, with the top four usually sealing Champions League berths for the following season.

 

Financial Differences Between the Premier League and Championship

When aligning Championship vs Premier League realities, the financial differences are quite stark:

• The Premier League generates substantially greater broadcasting and commercial revenue due to its domestic and global standing.
• With more commercial revenue garnered, the Premier League can offer bigger pay packets to players, and subsequently, possess a bigger transfer budget.
• Promotion arrives with a new set of expectations, but this can give a club more financial clout.
• Relegation, however, can force clubs to adjust their ambitions, but teams that drop to the Championship are given a lifeline through parachute payments to deal with the transition.

Broadcasting revenue

Broadcasting revenue tends to be more concentrated within Premier League clubs. Distributed typically on a 50%/25%/25% basis, it is at the discretion of the broadcaster as to which matches are shown. Generally, the gap between Premier League and Championship has grown wider based on broadcasting revenues.

Transfer and Wage Budgets

Premier League clubs generally tend to spend more and are armed with bigger transfer budgets. That said, they need to be more mindful of complying with Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations given they tend to outlay more on transfer fees than their Championship counterparts.

 

Championship vs Premier League Clubs and Stadiums

There are some parallels between the Championship vs Premier League; however, other differences have been highlighted below:

• Some clubs have significant histories of playing in both competitions and have established supporter bases. 
• Stadium sizes vary considerably, as Premier League clubs usually have bigger capacities than Championship clubs, which translates into gate receipts.
• Due to promotion and relegation, the dynamic and composition of both leagues change annually, making both competitions fresher.

 

Is the Championship More Competitive Than the Premier League?

This is a more nuanced question, as it depends on your definition of competitive. At face value, it can refer to the tightness of a league. The Championship is competitive as there are often several teams battling for the play-offs and automatic promotion, making the end of the season a rat race.

In contrast, the Premier League has different battles stretching across the title race, European qualification, and relegation, making for compelling viewing.

Competitiveness is subjective, and there is no set criteria suggesting one is more competitive than the other. 

 

What Happens When a Championship Club Reaches the Premier League?

The transition is swift, but not always seamless for teams promoted to the Premier League:

• Promotion takes effect from the following season. Like the Championship, the new Premier League campaign starts in August.
• Squad and operational overhauls may happen early to help teams with pre-season preparations.
• Clubs in the Premier League have a reduced schedule in terms of league matches, playing 38 as opposed to 46 in the Championship.
• Often, there is a step up in quality playing in the top tier, and teams in the bottom three at the end of the season head straight back to the Championship.

 

Championship vs Premier League FAQs

Is the Championship below the Premier League?

Yes. The EFL pyramid has the Premier League as the top division, while the Championship is the second tier. 

Can Championship teams play Premier League teams?

Championship teams can meet Premier League teams in domestic competitions, such as the FA Cup or EFL Cup, but this can depend on the draw.

How many Championship teams get promoted to the Premier League?

Each season, three teams get promoted from the Championship to the Premier League. Two go up automatically, while the other goes up via the play-offs.

How many Premier League teams are relegated to the Championship?

Three clubs from the Premier League fall into the Championship at the end of the season.

Does the Championship have more teams than the Premier League?

Yes, the Championship has 24 clubs, while the Premier League has 20.

Does the Championship play more matches than the Premier League?

As the Championship features more teams, they play 46 regular-season games compared to the 38 contested by Premier League sides.

Is the Championship part of the Premier League?

No, they are separate competitions. The Championship is the second tier of English football, but the link lies within promotion and relegation.

Can a Championship club qualify for the Premier League without winning the league?

Yes, the second-placed club earns automatic promotion, while a third team can come up through the play-offs.

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