When are EFL Championship playoffs 2025? Date, time, schedule, results as teams chase Premier League promotion

Joe Wright

When are EFL Championship playoffs 2025? Date, time, schedule, results as teams chase Premier League promotion image

The EFL Championship regular season concluded on Saturday, May 3, with all 24 teams kicking off their last games at the same time.

With Leeds United and Burnley already assured of the automatic promotion places, the main topic of conversation on the final day was the race for the playoffs. Sheffield United and Sunderland were certain of claiming two of those coveted spots, but there were five teams still in the race to snatch the remaining two places in the top six.

Coventry City's 2-0 win over Middlesbrough saw them finish in fifth place and end Boro's hopes of the playoffs, while Bristol City came from two goals down to draw with Preston North End and claim the final top-six position.

Leeds fell at the final hurdle of last season's playoffs, so they will be relieved to have avoided them this time. The agony and ecstasy of the semifinals and final is almost unparalleled in domestic football given the prize for the winners: the grandeur and riches of the Premier League.

Below are the key details on the matches, including the dates and times of each semifinal and final, and the results as they happen.

MORE: The teams dropping down from the Premier League to the Championship in 2025

When are the EFL Championship playoffs 2025?

The Championship playoffs in 2024/25 begin in the week commencing May 5.

The semifinal first leg between the teams finishing sixth and third in the standings — Bristol City and Sheffield United — will take place on Thursday, May 8, with the first leg of the other semifinal played on Friday, May 9.

The return legs are held on May 12 and May 13.

When is the EFL Championship playoff final 2025?

The final will be held at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, May 24. It is expected to kick off at 3 p.m. local time (10 a.m. ET).

EFL Championship playoffs 2025: Schedule, results

The playoffs are seeded based on the teams' league finishes this season. That means the team that places third in the final league standings will face the team in sixth, while fourth place takes on fifth. Those third- and fourth-place sides will play the second legs of their semifinals at home.

Championship playoff semifinals 2025: First legs

MatchVenueDateTime (local / ET)Result
Bristol City vs. Sheffield UnitedAshton GateThur, May 88 p.m. / 3 p.m.
Coventry City vs. SunderlandCoventry Building Society ArenaFri, May 98 p.m. / 3 p.m.

Championship playoff semifinals 2025: Second legs

MatchVenueDateTime (local / ET)Result
Sheffield United vs. Bristol CityBramall LaneMon, May 128 p.m. / 3 p.m.
Sunderland vs. Coventry CityStadium of LightTue, May 138 p.m. / 3 p.m.

Championship playoff final 2025

MatchVenueDateTime (local / ET)
Winner SF 1 vs. Winner SF 2Wembley StadiumSat, May 243 p.m. / 10 a.m.

MORE: Premier League Golden Boot standings | Key details for Liverpool's EPL title parade

Joe Wright

Joe Wright is a Senior Editor at Sporting News, managing global soccer and the UK team. He was previously a sub editor and writer for Goal.com before spending six years as part of the Stats Perform editorial news service, covering major global sports including football, tennis, boxing, NBA, rugby union and athletics. Joe has extensive experience covering some of the biggest events in football, including two UEFA Champions League finals, Euro 2016, the Confederations Cup 2017 and the 2018 World Cup, which included the final in Moscow.