When is the EFL Championship playoff final? Full playoff fixture schedule, bracket, results, TV channel

by Adam Said April 30, 2022

The race is on in the EFL Championship for clubs to clinch a spot in the playoffs to keep their Premier League dreams alive.

Several 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.

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, the battle for the second automatic spot to England’s top division is between Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest and Huddersfield Town. With Bournemouth sitting second, three points ahead of the other two, a win and a draw in their final two matches will guarantee automatic promotion.

Two of these three teams will be joined by any two from Luton Town (72 points), Sheffield United (72), Middlesbrough (70), and Millwall (69). While Luton have two regular-season games left, the others have just one, meaning Millwall’s chances of breaking into the top six are slim.

*As of Saturday, April 30

Pos.		GP	W	D	L	Pts	GD
1	Fulham**	44	26	9	9	87	60
2	Bournemouth	44	23	13	8	82	33
3	Nottingham Forest	44	23	10	11	79	34
4	Huddersfield Town	45	22	13	10	79	15
5	Luton Town	44	20	12	12	72	14
6	Sheffield United	45	20	12	13	72	14
7	Middlesbrough	45	20	10	15	70	12
8	Millwall	45	18	15	12	69	9

**Already promoted

MORE: How do the EFL Championship playoffs work? Standings, qualified teams, past winners

Of all the clubs in contention for a playoff spot and/or automatic promotion, Forest are the in-form side. They have won seven of their past eight matches.

❤️ #Believe

🌳🔴 #NFFC pic.twitter.com/DbPofK9mNX

— Nottingham Forest FC (@NFFC) April 28, 2022

When are the EFL Championship playoff semi-finals?

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.

Fixture	Date	Kick-off time (UK)	Kick-off time (USA)	Kick-off time (Canada)	Kick-off time (Australia)
Sixth vs. third	May 13/14	19:45 BST	14:45 ET	14:45 ET	04:45 AEST
Fifth vs. fourth	May 14	14:45 BST	09:45 ET	09:45 ET	23:45 AEST
Third vs. sixth	May 16/17	19:45 BST	14:45 ET	14:45 ET	04:45 AEST
Fourth vs. fifth	May 17/18	19:45 BST	14:45 ET	14:45 ET	04:45 AEST