The 2025/26 Championship play-off race is set to go down to the wire, with 14 teams in the mix to enter the lottery to win football’s most valuable trophy.
The second tier is closer than ever this season, but out of the teams battling it out, just four can make the play-offs – and only one can come on top at Wembley Stadium in May.
From 4th-place Millwall to 15th-place Swansea – here’s which side has the best chance.
Millwall (3rd): The Lions missed out on a big chance to move closer to the top two on Saturday, losing 3-1 at home to Portsmouth.
Alex Neil’s side are still in the automatics race; it would take something spectacular for them to drop out of the top six in the final 13 games of the season.
Ipswich (4th): Ipswich have two games in hand on most of the Championship, after an array of postponed games have left them catching up.
Win these games, and they’ll go two points off the automatic spots. Kieran McKenna’s side will undoubtedly finish the season in the top six.
Hull City (5th): Winless in three, Hull need to regain their form if they’re going to keep their position in the play-off spots.
No side in the top 10 has conceded more goals than the Tigers (46) – in fact 23rd place Oxford United have conceded less than them. Hanging in there – but may drop out eventually.
Wrexham (6th): Wrexham’s early-season form made it look as if the Championship was one step too far in their quest for back-to-back-to-back-to-back promotions – but Hollywood’s finest are up there and in the race.
Only Ipswich Town, Coventry City and Middlesbrough have lost more games than Phil Parkinson’s side this season – they are well in the race.
Birmingham City (7th): Chris Davies was under pressure earlier in the season, when the Blues had won just three times in 11 games and looked like potentially getting involved in the relegation battle.
But the newly-promoted side look real contenders for the play-offs and sit two points off sixth-placed Wrexham.
Derby County (8th): The Rams are a decent outfit, and tend to turn draws into wins more often than not.
There may be better sides in the race, but Derby are a nuisance to play against and will fancy their chances whilst sitting three points outside of the play-off spots.
Watford (9th): The Hornets won their first league game under new boss Ed Still, and will look to keep their manager bounce going as the season draws to a close.
Watford have one of the best defensive records amongst the teams in the play-off race, conceding 38 times this season, which could be a big factor.
The main reason for them making it or not will be whether head coach Still is capable of steering the ship in the right direction.
Preston North End (10th): Paul Heckingbottom’s side have won just once in their last five, and are neither big goal scorers or regularly concede.
A solid outfit, the North End could be well-placed for the play-offs if they make it there.
Southampton (11th): The Saints lead the form table, and new boss Tonda Eckert has turned the most talented squad outside of the play-off places into one that’s performing on a much more consistent level.
The bookies’ favourite to make the top six, Southampton are a great contender.
Bristol City (12th): In familiar territory, Bristol City sit mid table in the Championship once again.
Under Gerhard Struber, they’ll be hoping to take a run of good form into the final few weeks of the campaign, which they are yet to have this season. Consistently inconsistent.
Queens Park Rangers (13th): QPR are a decent second tier side, yet another extremely inconsistent one at that.
The Hoops have a decent backline and fantastic striker in Richard Kone, but are yet to put a run together that suggests that they could make a success of the play-offs.
Sheffield United (14th): The Blades have bounced back tremendously from the Ruben Selles era, and look play-off contenders despite sitting 14th in the table.
This season, United have drawn just three times – and need to keep turning one point into three to make the top six.
Swansea City (15th): Swansea have been vastly-improved under new boss Vitor Matos, and have won 50% of their games since the young Portuguese manager arrived in November.
The Swans are in the hunt, but need to keep up their decent form to be in with a shout, whilst six points off the top six.
Stoke City (16th): Stoke started the season so well, but have since slipped and slided to 16th place.
Mark Robins’ side are no longer as effective as they were earlier in the campaign, but are still in the play-off hunt – just seven points away despite their low position.
Southampton lead the form table, with 11 points from a possible 15 in their last five games.
Tonda Eckert’s side are the bookies favourites – and a run of form going into the end of the season is vital for potential play-off success.
Likewise, Birmingham City have 11 points from 15 and look in red hot form.
Whilst scoring seven goals, just three going in the other way shows Chris Davies’ side is learning to be defensively sound whilst staying effective in attack.
Despite missing out on their chance to edge closer to the top two on Saturday, Millwall have 10 points from 15, as do Sheffield United and Wrexham.
It’s anybody’s guess at which of the sides in the mix make the final four play-off spots. Here are our predictions:
| 1 | Middlesbrough |
| 2 | Coventry City |
| 3 | Ipswich Town |
| 4 | Millwall |
| 5 | Birmingham City |
| 6 | Southampton |
