New Season, New Challenges
The English Football League (EFL) officially released its 2026/27 fixture list on Thursday, June 25, marking the start of the countdown for clubs across the Championship, League One, and League Two. The season is set to kick off on the weekend of August 14-16, 2026, with the regular season concluding on May 1, 2027.
A significant change for the upcoming campaign is the expanded Championship Play-Off structure. Clubs finishing third through eighth will now compete for the final promotion spot. Under the new format, the teams finishing fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth will enter the competition at the quarter-final stage, with the winners progressing to face the third and fourth-placed teams in the semi-finals. The final is scheduled for Wembley Stadium on May 29, 2027.
Carabao Cup Adjustments
Logistical changes have also been implemented for the Carabao Cup to accommodate European football commitments. A preliminary round will be contested by the two teams relegated from League Two last season, Tranmere Rovers and Crawley Town, and two newly promoted sides from the National League, York City and Rochdale. The winners of these ties will join the 67 other EFL clubs in the first round, which is scheduled for the weekend of August 7-9.
Broadcasting rights remain a central component of the EFL’s commercial strategy, with Sky Sports set to broadcast over 1,000 matches throughout the season. US-based fans will continue to have access to a minimum of 250 matches via CBS Sports as part of the league’s ongoing international distribution agreement.