What is the EFL Championship?
The English Football League Championship, known as the EFL Championship or the Championship, is the second division tournament in the English football league system, as it is just behind the Premier League.
The English Football League consists of the second, third, and fourth-tier tournaments, which are known as the EFL Championship, League One, and League Two competitions, respectively.
A total of 24 teams participate in each EFL Championship season that generally runs between August and May the following year.
The EFL Championship is known as one of the most competitive leagues in world football, which also produces good financial rewards for the clubs.
EFL Championship History
The EFL Championship was originally introduced in 1892, with the name Football League Second Division. In 1992, after the creation of the Premier League, it was renamed the Football League First Division.
In 2004, the competition was once again renamed as the Football League Championship. The latest name, EFL Championship, has been running since 2016.
Despite being a second division tournament, the EFL Championship is very popular globally, even more than many top division football league competitions. The average matchday attendances easily cross the global second division football league tournaments by regularly producing more than 15,000 on-field crowds. Also, the EFL Championship has been broadcast in over 100 countries, WOW.
The Championship play-offs are known as “the richest game in football”, as it provides a massive financial reward for the club that earns promotion to the Premier League for the next season.
EFL Championship Format
A total of 24 teams participate in every season of the EFL Championship. While each team faces each other twice, based on home and away, every team plays a total of 46 matches in the league stage of the EFL Championship, known as the regular season.
At the end of the league stage, we come to know about the promotions to the next Premier League season and relegations to the next League One season.
In the EFL Championship, one promotion happens through the Championship play-offs, consisting of two-legged Semi-finals and a Final.
So, each EFL Championship season runs with a total of 552 matches.
EFL Championship season
24 teams
46 matches for each team (regular season)
Championship play-offs: Two-legged Semi-finals and a Final
A total of 552 matches
EFL Championship Details of Promotion and Relegation
(Promotions)
At the end of the regular season (before the Championship play-offs) of the EFL Championship, the top two teams in the final points table secure their promotions for the next Premier League season.
Meanwhile, the third to sixth-placed teams qualify for the Championship play-offs of the season, which are the knockout stages. There are two-legged Semi-finals in the play-offs (home and away), where the winners of the Semi-finals advance to the single-leg Final. The Championship play-offs Final winners become the third team to earn the Premier League promotion for the next season. Wembley Stadium hosts the EFL Championship play-offs Final.
(Relegations)
At the end of the regular season of the EFL Championship, the last three teams in the final points table are relegated to the next League One season.
