The next 25 EFL League One title winners have been predicted by AI (2026-2050) | OneFootball

Football League World takes a look at who ChatGPT believes will win the next 25 League One titles

It's been a well-known saying this year that League One is one of the most unpredictable leagues in the entire EFL.

With sides just inside the top half still looking over their shoulders at the bottom four as we move deeper into 2026, it just emphasises the "anyone can beat anyone" nature of the third tier, and the improvement in quality across the bottom end of the division.

So, predicting who will emerge from that congested middle pack in future seasons is incredibly difficult, and guessing what the layout will be in 25 years is nigh on impossible.

Therefore, Football League World has turned to a popular AI-based chat service, ChatGPT, to get their opinions on who will be the League One champions from 2026 all the way to 2050.

2025/26 - Cardiff City

This season has been one of the tightest League One campaigns in recent memory. That being said, Cardiff City's place atop the third-tier table seems the most nailed-on position in the entire EFL come May outside of Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship.

The Bluebirds may have taken a few months to properly start churning out results this season, but now everyone is playing to the same tune, and Brian Barry-Murphy's side is a well-oiled machine proficient in both attack and defence.

Therefore, it's no surprise that AI have the current leaders remaining at the top for the rest of the campaign.

2026/27 - Luton Town

Luton Town have struggled to adjust to life back in League One following back-to-back relegations in the Premier League and Championship over the last two seasons.

The Hatters' squad is clearly above third-tier quality, and there's no doubting that Jack Wilshere's side can pick up some steam in the second half of this season and finish in a play-off place at least.

However, ChatGPT doesn't think that this will end in promotion. Instead, Luton will fulfil many pre-season expectations for this year, but one season later and win League One in 2027.

2027/28 - Reading

After years of financial mismanagement leading to the end of the Dai Yongge reign last May, Reading is a club looking to stabalise themselves and eventually bounce back to the Championship.

According to AI, that promotion will take place in a few years.

The Royals were still flirting with the play-offs until the final day last season, even with the various hardships that they had to navigate on-field due to off-field issues. With a former League One winner at the helm in Leam Richardson, there's not much stopping Reading from finishing top of the tree in 2028.

2028/29 - Doncaster Rovers

Doncaster Rovers are currently getting used to life back in League One following their fourth-tier-winning campaign last season.

Right now, the focus is on avoiding immediate relegation back to League Two, but ChatGPT believes that Donny will be looking at a second title win in five years and a return to the Championship for the first time since 2013/14 come 2029.

2029/30 - Peterborough United

After the surge up the table under Luke Williams this season, following a dire start with Darren Ferguson in charge, Peterborough United fans may feel aggrieved that they're not being predicted to return to the Championship for another four seasons.

Posh are currently in the midst of their fourth campaign in the third tier following a one-stop Championship term. Three of those seasons have ended in the play-offs, and they've won the EFL Trophy in back-to-back years, too.

The culture of the club over the past 15 years has been that they've been one of the premier sides in the third tier, and AI feels that it'll culminate in a first League One title in 2030.

2030/31 - Oxford United

Oxford United are currently struggling to stay afloat in the Championship, and a return to League One looks to be on the cards.

However, ChatGPT reckons that the Yellows will bounce back soon enough, surpassing their play-off success in 2024 and picking up the league title.

2031/32 - Wigan Athletic

The perennial League One champions, Wigan Athletic, have won the third tier more times than anyone else under the current EFL banner, and AI feels that a fourth title will be on the way to the Brick Community Stadium in 2032, a decade on from their third.

It's been a challenging few years since their last title win, as Wigan continue to navigate life back in League One after recovering from a few difficult years financially.

And ChatGPT believes that there'll be a few more years of frustration and mid-table finishes before the Tics finally start to rise again, and they'll be hoping that this title win will launch them back into being Championship regulars at least.

2032/33 - Port Vale

In the uber-competitive League One, Port Vale look a little stranded at the bottom of the division, and Jon Brady has a lot on his plate to try and drag the Valiants out of their current predicament.

Regardless of whether this season ends in relegation or not, AI have predicted that Vale will be a Championship club in less than a decade, winning League One in 2033.

Port Vale haven't played in the second tier since 2000, so this would be a monumental story, and one that would leave modern-day Vale fans delighted.

2033/34 - Bradford City

In a more extreme case than Peterborough's before them, there'll be some disappointed Bradford City supporters reading that AI don't back them to make the jump back to the Championship for another few years, as Graham Alexander's side have been one of the best in the division this season.

The Bantams have been formidable at Valley Parade over the past year, but ChatGPT doesn't believe that it'll be enough to carry them over the line until 2034 at least.

It's interesting to note that, alongside Bradford, National League side Morecambe have been backed to win the play-offs that year, which would be a remarkable feat for the side currently struggling in the fifth tier.

2034/35 - AFC Wimbledon

Rounding out the quartet of newly promoted League One sides that AI feel will be winning the third tier within the next nine years is AFC Wimbledon, as last season's League Two play-off finalists follow in Bradford's footsteps a year later.

The Dons, like the majority of sides currently in the third tier, are focussing on keeping above that dreaded relegation zone, but after this season, they have all the tools to truly establish themselves.

Whether a fan-owned club would have the resources to truly mount a title charge is yet to be seen — but ChatGPT feels that they could within a decade.