QPR and Charlton Athletic handed future Premier League promotion boost by EFL

The EFL have confirmed big changes to the Championship promotion push from the 2026/27 campaign.

QPR, Charlton Athletic and Millwall are to be handed an easier route into the Championship play-off stages by the EFL from the 2026/27 season onwards.

Sunderland celebrate their Championship play-off final win. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) | Getty Images

placeholder image — Sunderland celebrate their Championship play-off final win. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The second tier play-off final is widely regarded as the most lucrative game in world football given the huge income boost that Championship teams can gain by achieving promotion to the Premier League. Last season, Sunderland beat Sheffield United 2-1 and boosted their wealth by a reported minimum of £200 million.

Millwall will hope to be in the top six come the end of the current season with Alex Neil’s side currently in fourth place and nine points clear of Southampton in seventh. QPR had harboured hopes of a play-off place but Julien Stephan’s side have dropped points in recent outings and sunk to 15th.

EFL confirm Championship play-off shake-up

Meanwhile, for Charlton Athletic it’s been a mission of cementing their position in the Championship following their promotion via the League One play-offs last year. However, loftier ambitions may be set next term.

For any London side bidding for a play-off place next season, confirmation that the EFL will extend the play-offs from four to six teams comes as a huge boost. EFL chief executive Trevor Birch said: "Since their introduction in 1986/87, the play-offs have become a highlight of the domestic football calendar, capturing the drama, suspense and jeopardy that make the EFL so special.

"Following several months of discussion with clubs and other stakeholders, we are confident this change will further strengthen the Championship as a competition and give more clubs and their supporters a genuine opportunity of achieving promotion."

The change is expected to create a more enticing run-in for the Championship season with clubs from third to eighth place all in win a chance of promotion once the formal league campaign ends.

The format of the eight-team play-offs is yet to be confirmed but it is expected that the third and fourth place clubs would receive a bye to the semi-finals. Fifth would then play eighth with sixth facing off against seventh in one-off ties at the stadium of the team finishing higher in the division.