The race is on in the EFL Championship for clubs to clinch a spot in the playoffs to keep their Premier League dreams alive.
With one match remaining in the season a handful of sides are still in with a chance of securing promotion to England’s top flight via the drama of the four-team mini-tournament.
Brentford won last season’s playoff final at Wembley 2-0 against Swansea City, sealing a place in the top division for the first time since 1947.
MORE: How much prize money will the Championship playoff final winners get?
The playoffs were introduced in 1987 and, since 1990, the winners have been crowned via a one-off final. This year, teams who finish from third to sixth in the Championship qualify for a playoff spot.
Memorable finals over the years include Charlton Athletic’s win on penalties after a 4-4 draw with Sunderland in 1998, and Glenn Hoddle’s Swindon Town holding off Leicester City 4-3 in 1993 to earn The Robins their only season in the Premier League.
Which teams are in the EFL Championship playoffs?
With Fulham having already earned promotion to the Premier league for 2022-23, Bournemouth won the battle for the second automatic spot to England’s top division in the penultimate matchday.
Nottingham Forest made a valiant run for that second spot, but ultimately fell short, losing 1-0 to Bournemouth in the decisive showdown on May 3. Their consolation will be a berth to the Championship playoff, where they will join Huddersfield and two other clubs.
Luton Town (72 points), Sheffield United (72), Middlesbrough (70), and Millwall (69) are battling for the final two spots with a final match remaining on Saturday, May 7.
*As of Tuesday, May 3
| Rank | Club | GP | W | D | L | Pts | GD |
| 1. | Fulham** | 45 | 27 | 9 | 9 | 90 | +67 |
| 2. | Bournemouth** | 45 | 24 | 13 | 8 | 85 | +34 |
| 3. | Nottingham Forest* | 45 | 23 | 10 | 12 | 79 | +33 |
| 4. | Huddersfield Town* | 45 | 22 | 13 | 10 | 79 | +15 |
| 5. | Sheffield United | 45 | 20 | 12 | 13 | 72 | +14 |
| 6. | Luton Town | 45 | 20 | 12 | 13 | 72 | +7 |
| 7. | Middlesbrough | 45 | 20 | 10 | 15 | 70 | +12 |
| 8. | Millwall | 45 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 69 | +9 |
** = Won promotion
* = Clinched playoff berth
The playoffs were introduced in 1987 and, since 1990, the winners have been crowned via a one-off final. This year, teams who finish from third to sixth in the Championship qualify for a playoff spot.
Memorable finals over the years include Charlton Athletic’s win on penalties after a 4-4 draw with Sunderland in 1998, and Glenn Hoddle’s Swindon Town holding off Leicester City 4-3 in 1993 to earn The Robins their only season in the Premier League.
Which teams are in the EFL Championship playoffs?
With Fulham having already earned promotion to the Premier league for 2022-23, Bournemouth won the battle for the second automatic spot to England’s top division in the penultimate matchday.
Nottingham Forest made a valiant run for that second spot, but ultimately fell short, losing 1-0 to Bournemouth in the decisive showdown on May 3. Their consolation will be a berth to the Championship playoff, where they will join Huddersfield and two other clubs.
Luton Town (72 points), Sheffield United (72), Middlesbrough (70), and Millwall (69) are battling for the final two spots with a final match remaining on Saturday, May 7.
*As of Tuesday, May 3
| Rank | Club | GP | W | D | L | Pts | GD |
| 1. | Fulham** | 45 | 27 | 9 | 9 | 90 | +67 |
| 2. | Bournemouth** | 45 | 24 | 13 | 8 | 85 | +34 |
| 3. | Nottingham Forest* | 45 | 23 | 10 | 12 | 79 | +33 |
| 4. | Huddersfield Town* | 45 | 22 | 13 | 10 | 79 | +15 |
| 5. | Sheffield United | 45 | 20 | 12 | 13 | 72 | +14 |
| 6. | Luton Town | 45 | 20 | 12 | 13 | 72 | +7 |
| 7. | Middlesbrough | 45 | 20 | 10 | 15 | 70 | +12 |
| 8. | Millwall | 45 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 69 | +9 |
** = Won promotion
* = Clinched playoff berth
When are the EFL Championship playoff semifinals?
The playoff semi-finals take place over two legs, home and away, with the team finishing third in the EFL Championship taking on those who ended in sixth. Fifth place battles fourth for a spot in the final.
The higher seed hosts the second leg.
| Fixture | Date | Kickoff time (UK) | Kickoff time (USA) | Kickoff time (Canada) | Kickoff time (Australia) |
| No. 6 vs. No. 3 | May 13/14 | 19:45 BST | 14:45 ET | 14:45 ET | 04:45 AEST |
| No. 5 vs. No. 4 | May 14 | 14:45 BST | 09:45 ET | 09:45 ET | 23:45 AEST |
| No. 3 vs. No. 6 | May 16/17 | 19:45 BST | 14:45 ET | 14:45 ET | 04:45 AEST |
| No. 4 vs. No. 5 | May 17/18 | 19:45 BST | 14:45 ET | 14:45 ET | 04:45 AEST |
When is the EFL Championship playoff final?
The 2021-22 EFL Championship final is a single-elimination match taking place on Sunday, May 29 at Wembley.
Kick-off is at 16:30 local time (BST), 11:30 ET (in USA and Canada), and 01:30 AEST in Australia on Monday, May 30.
What channel is EFL Championship playoffs
| UK | US | Canada | Australia | |
| TV | Sky Sports | — | DAZN | beIn SPORTS |
| Streaming | Now/SkyGo | ESPN+ | DAZN | — |
UK: Viewers in the UK can watch the Championship playoffs on Sky Sports Football or streamed through SkyGo. Now TV subscribers can also watch or stream the action if they have Sky Sports included.
USA: In the United States, you can stream the playoffs via ESPN+.
Canada: In Canada, DAZN is your port of call for Championship action.
Australia: In Australia, beIN SPORTS will broadcast the Championship playoffs.
