The big EFL Championship change we could see soon - March 5th date set | OneFootball

The Championship could be somewhat restructured as early as next season

A fresh update has emerged regarding the potential restructuring of the EFL Championship's play-off system, which could come into effect as early as the upcoming 2026/27 campaign.

The post-season lottery has been known for providing plenty of iconic moments and drama since they were first brought into action by the English Football League in the late 1980s, although, at the time, they also involved the one side which had finished directly ahead of the automatic relegation slots in the First Division, as well as the three sides who missed out on automatic promotion to the second tier.

As such, the current format of the play-offs has been in use since 1990, when Swindon Town hosted Sunderland at the Old Wembley - a fixture known for controversy as the winning Robins were denied their place in the top-flight at the time after being found guilty of illegal player payments on 35 instances.

The Championship play-off semi-finals and the subsequent final are often matches which will gain not just national, but worldwide attention, with the showpiece event in North London often described as the 'richest game in football' due to the prize money which the winning club will receive after achieving promotion to the Premier League.

Last season, Sunderland ended their eight-year hiatus from the elite level of English football after defeating Sheffield United courtesy of Tommy Watson's last-gasp winner, with the Black Cats making a record-breaking amount of £220m in the process, before enjoying an impressive season in the top-flight this term under Regis Le Bris.

As has been the case for so long, this season will again see the third-placed team face off against those who finish sixth, whilst the teams in fourth and fifth will play out the second instalment of semi-finals.

However, the well-known and popular format could change as early as next May, with several clubs in favour of a new system, which would see clubs further down the table also play their part in the drama.

EFL clubs to vote on potential restructure of Championship play-off system

It was first reported in September that such plans had been put forward by the EFL, and that there was 'broad support' behind the new project, which had received backing from the likes of Preston North End CEO, Peter Ridsdale.

At the time, it was stated that the Premier League would have to be on board with the concept in order for such drastic changes to come into effect for the 2026/27 campaign.

The Guardian have issued a fresh update on the matter, stating that the plans to continue pursuing such changes have been green-lighted by the Football Association, and that the EFL's 72 clubs will vote on the plans at an extraordinary general meeting on March 5th.

It has been stated that 37 overall votes in favour, as well as 13 from Championship clubs, would be required, whilst the Premier League are believed to oppose the idea, which would see the seventh and eighth-placed teams face off in 'eliminator' rounds against the fifth and sixth-placed sides in an additional play-off round, with there being a chance that the eighth-best team in the second tier could still become a top-flight side.

The EFL are also reportedly confident that they will see such plans come into fruition.

EFL Championship play-off restructure will certainly split opinion

The proposed format would see the Championship follow in the footsteps of the National League, with the fifth-tier using an 'eliminator' round ever since the 2017/18 season.

However, it is fair to say that such plans in the EFL would certainly cause an opinion split, as it gives more clubs plenty to play for in the season's final weeks, whilst some would argue there is no need for change.

This season, though, has been the perfect example of showcasing why a change could be beneficial, as only eight points currently separate Wrexham in sixth and Sheffield United in 17th, with there still a quarter of the campaign to play out.