EFL give green light over shock Championship play-off changes after Portsmouth boss’ opposition
The EFL have announced a fresh shake-up to the play-offs for the 2026-27 campaign.
There’ll be a new play-off format from the 2026-27 campaign, the EFL have confirmed.
Promotion is, of course, beyond Pompey’s reach this term as they focus their attention on maintaining their Championship status.
Should John Mousinho’s men remain in the second tier, though, the Blues and the other 23 clubs will have an improved chance of a shot at promotion, as the Football League implement new rules.
EFL give green light over play-off shake up
The 72 EFL clubs have given the green light over the expansion of the play-offs from four to six sides, in a ground-breaking change to the format since their introduction in 1987.
Although the new system is yet to be announced, it would likely mean the fifth-placed team would play the eighth-placed team and sixth taking on seventh in a one-off eliminator round.
They would then progress to two-legged semi-finals, against those who finished third and fourth before the winners then meeting for the Wembley final.
After the move was initially approved by the Football League board in February, a simple majority was required to push through the vote.
These changes will first be implemented in the Championship before being introduced to League One and League Two if successful.
He 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.’
What has John Mousinho said over the play-off changes
The Blues boss told The Blues last month: ‘I quite like the format as it is, I’d keep it like that.
‘There’s always that argument between the sixth-placed team and the third-placed team, there’s always a big points gap there.
‘There’s always a bit of needle around that, there was last in the National League with York City, I think.
‘Everybody will know what the situation is before the season - and everyone should accept that - but I think sixth is a good cut-off.
‘I haven’t properly thought about it, but if you start having that disparity between third and eighth it can be too big.
‘If that’s the state of play (eighth doesn’t finish in the play-offs) and that’s the parameters before the season starts, then it’s absolutely fine. You just go with it.
‘I’ve been involved in the game now for more than 20 years and I think the addition of the play-offs to the Football League are brilliant.
‘It creates a lot of excitement at the back end of the season, it creates a lot of excitement and jeopardy for the sides anywhere between fourth and 10th at the back end of the season.
‘Everything is really tight and there’s now a distinct group, say, in the Championship who aren’t going to make the play-offs.
‘But apart from that, probably from Sheffield United upwards, every side probably thinks they can nick a spot in there if they go on a decent run. So I think it works pretty well as it is, that’s why I’d be loathe to change it.’