English football is set to witness a significant structural change. The English Football League (EFL) has officially confirmed that the play-off system will expand from four to six teams starting from the 2026/2027 season.

The reform will introduce a new format aimed at increasing competitiveness and giving more clubs the opportunity to fight for promotion.
The announcement marks one of the most notable adjustments to the play-off system in recent years.

SIX TEAMS WILL COMPETE FOR PROMOTION

Under the new structure, six teams will qualify for the play-offs instead of the traditional four.

This change means that clubs finishing lower in the standings will now have a chance to fight for promotion through the play-off system.

The expanded format is designed to intensify the race in the final stages of the season and keep more teams involved in the battle for promotion.

A NEW PLAY-OFF STRUCTURE

The updated format will introduce an additional round before the traditional semi-finals.

The structure will be as follows:

▪️5th vs 8th place — single match
▪️6th vs 7th place — single match

The winners of these matches will then move on to face higher-ranked teams.

SEMI-FINALS AND FINAL REMAIN DECISIVE

After the first round, the winners will advance to the next stage:
▪️The winner of 5th vs 8th will face the 4th-placed team
▪️The winner of 6th vs 7th will face the 3rd-placed team

These semi-finals will be played over two legs (home and away).

The two winning teams will then meet in the play-off final, where promotion will ultimately be decided.

A CHANGE THAT COULD TRANSFORM THE PROMOTION RACE

By expanding the play-off system, the EFL aims to keep the competition open for a greater number of clubs throughout the season.

With more teams involved in the fight for promotion, the race for play-off places could become even more intense in the coming years.

The new format will officially come into effect starting with the 2026/2027 season.

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