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EFL Championship

The EFL Championship is the second-highest division in the English football league system, below the Premier League.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The EFL Championship is the second-highest division in the English football league system, below the Premier League. It is the top division of the English Football League and includes 24 clubs, with promotion and relegation to the Premier League and League One each season.

History

The division traces its roots to the Football League Second Division, and it became the Football League Championship in 2004. It was renamed the EFL Championship in 2016.

Competition format

The league has 24 clubs and uses a points-based table over a season that typically runs from August to May. The top two clubs are promoted automatically, while clubs in third to sixth place enter playoffs for the final promotion spot.

Promotion and relegation

The Championship is part of England's promotion-and-relegation pyramid. The top clubs move up to the Premier League, while the bottom three move down to League One.

Cross-border participation

Although it is an English league, Welsh clubs may compete in the Championship, making it a cross-border competition.

Key facts

  • The Championship is England's second-tier men's professional football league.
  • It is administered by the English Football League and sits directly below the Premier League.
  • The league has 24 teams and is a cross-border competition that can include Welsh clubs.
  • Each season, the top two clubs are promoted automatically and one more club can be promoted via playoffs.
  • The bottom three clubs are relegated to League One.
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Canadian context

Canadian readers may know the league mainly through its wide coverage in international football and through Canadian players, managers, and clubs with Canadian ownership or investment interests.

Frequently asked questions

What is the EFL Championship?
It is the second-highest division in English professional football and the top division of the English Football League.
How many teams are in the EFL Championship?
The league has 24 teams.
How does promotion work in the EFL Championship?
The top two teams are promoted automatically to the Premier League, and one additional team is promoted through playoffs involving clubs placed third to sixth.
How does relegation work?
The bottom three teams are relegated to League One.
When was the current competition name introduced?
The league was renamed the Football League Championship in 2004 and became the EFL Championship in 2016.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EFL_Championship
    Supports: League level, 24 teams, promotion and relegation format, cross-border participation
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Football_League
    Supports: Championship as the top division of the EFL and its place in the English football pyramid
  3. English Football League — https://www.efl.com/
    Supports: EFL as the governing body of the competition and official league context
  4. Wikipedia — https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/EFL_Championship
    Supports: Founded in 2004/05, 24 teams, current naming history