How AI thinks the 2026/27 EFL Championship table will look on Christmas Day | OneFootball

The Championship could be in for yet another season of unpredictability

Throughout history, the EFL Championship has proven to be one of the most unpredictable divisions in world football, and that could yet again be the case in 2026/27.

It was definitely the case last term, as Coventry City, Ipswich Town and Hull City marked their returns to the Premier League, with only one of those sides tasting top-flight football the previous season, whilst Leicester City, Oxford United and Sheffield Wednesday were relegated to League One.

Of course, the fixtures for the new campaign have been known for some time now, with the season kicking off on Friday, August 14th as far as the Championship term is concerned, as it will follow on from the EFL Cup first round.

Throughout the season, plenty of twists and turns will be expected, as well as changes to each playing squad and potential managerial departures, which only adds to the unpredictability.

With that in mind, Football League World has asked AI to predict how the division will look on Christmas Day, which comes after 22 rounds of matches.

24 ? ? Queens Park Rangers

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According to AI, Queens Park Rangers will be bottom of the Championship at Christmas - a scenario Julien Stephan and his side will hope to avoid.

The West London outfit are predicted to accumulate just 16 points by this point of the season, which could be a post-season hangover from 2025/26, where they failed to win any of their final six matches, including four successive defeats to round off the campaign.

23 ? ? Lincoln City

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In 23rd, just one point above the club from the capital is last season's League One champions, Lincoln City.

The Imps are gearing up towards a first second tier season since 1961, and in the eyes of many, are already on the back foot after replacing their highly-rated head coach, Michael Skubala, with the joint-management duo of Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw.

While this doesn't necessarily mean the season will end in relegation for City, it does, in some ways, show the disparity between many clubs in the division.

22 ? ? Bolton Wanderers

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They are joined in the relegation zone by Bolton Wanderers, who emerged victorious in May's League One play-off final.

It is the Whites' first season at the level for seven years, and with Steven Schumacher at the helm, they have a head coach who has strong recent Championship experience, and will be hoping to prove some of his former employers wrong in the next 46 games.

However, by Christmas, Bolton are predicted to have just 19 points on the board.

21 ? ? Cardiff City

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Meanwhile, fellow Championship newcomers, Cardiff City, are predicted to be residing outside the bottom three by a solitary point on December 25th.

This would certainly be a position which Bluebirds fans would take at the end of the season, given the youthfulness associated with Brian Barry-Murphy's side.

However, after 22 games, it may also be a sign that the relegation battle could be tight throughout the entire campaign, which would create plenty of tension.

20 ? ? Charlton Athletic

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In 20th position at Christmas will be Charlton Athletic, according to AI.

The Addicks were the lowest finishers out of last season's newly-promoted sides, ending the campaign in 19th, meaning that Nathan Jones may not be best pleased by this placement halfway through the new term if such feats did materialise.

As such, the London side will be hoping to push on instead, even if resources aren't at the level many divisional rivals have.

19 ? ? Stoke City

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Even though Stoke City have enjoyed an encouraging start to the summer transfer window, AI believes the Potters will be in 19th at this time of the season on just 24 points.

The Potters tailed off massively in the second half of last season, with an injury crisis certainly not helping Mark Robins' cause, but this would not be an ideal first half of 2026/27 after the optimism which has started to suddenly surround the Bet365 Stadium.

18 ? ? Preston North End

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Above them are predicted to be Preston North End on 25 points, with the Lilywhites also enduring a difficult second half of 2025/26 after emerging as potential play-off contenders under Paul Heckingbottom.

This would also be an underwhelming start to the season for those at Deepdale, especially as takeover talks continue to rumble on, as well as the permanent acquisition of Alfie Devine from Tottenham Hotspur for a club-record fee.

17 ? ? Blackburn Rovers

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In 17th, AI has placed Blackburn Rovers, who recently re-appointed the experienced Tony Mowbray at Ewood Park following Michael O'Neill's exit.

Rovers ended last season rather strongly to ensure their survival, and they will hope to eventually put an inconsistent period behind them, which has also not been helped by the club's financial situation.

16

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In the early weeks of the transfer window, Portsmouth appear to be showing strong ambitions, which will be music to the ears of head coach, John Mousinho.

The Fratton Park outfit struggled for consistency and goals in their second term back in the Championship, and will now be hoping to make great strides of progress towards the top half of the table, although AI believes they will be 16th by the end of the year.

15 ? ? Swansea City

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Swansea City are set for an intriguing first full season under Vitor Matos' management, after the Portuguese earned plenty of praise for his style of play in South Wales from November onwards.

However, they are certainly braced for transfer interest in the division's Golden Boot holder, Zan Vipotnik, which perhaps is a key reflection as to why AI believes they will be sat 15th at Christmas.