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As the 2024-2025 season comes to an end, the Championship, League One, and League Two play-offs have drama written all over them. Teams throughout England are competing for the opportunity to win promotion, which means sporting glory, but also financial gains. Here’s the lowdown on the current play-off scenarios across England's three top leagues.
The Championship Play-Offs: Sunderland and Sheffield one game away from Premier League
Sunderland have one game to go before returning to the Premier League, having completed a tense semi-final victory over Coventry City. After winning the first leg at home 2-1, a tough return leg awaited them. The Black Cats were, however, rocked as late as the 75th minute when the Dutch right-back Milan van Ewijk cut into the box, crossed and Coventry equalised. Suddenly, the match was level at 2-2 on aggregate and needed extra-time. In the 122nd minute, Sunderland's Daniel Ballard scored the winning goal and sent the Stadium of Light into raptures, which saw Sunderland through to the final.
Sunderland will play Sheffield United at Wembley in the play-off final for a place in the Premier League. Interestingly, this final is often branded as the ‘£170 million match’ due to the financial implications that come with getting promoted to England's top tier of English football. For Sunderland, winning at Wembley would be incredible, particularly because in recent years they have dealt with financial issues and relegation to League One. A win in this match would illustrate how far Sunderland have come. Championship play-off final tickets are available via our online booking system.
League One Play-Offs: Two teams for one spot in the Championship
In League One, the final spot in the Championship is now breaking down nicely. The 2025 League One play-offs feature four teams: Stockport County, Charlton Athletic, Wycombe Wanderers and Leyton Orient. They finished the regular season in 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th respectively - and they will now compete in two-legged semi-finals.
The first legs have already taken place and the action has been intense. Leyton Orient and Stockport County played out a 2-2 draw in the first leg, while Wycombe and Charlton played out a goalless draw. As the second legs took place, Stockport County's tie with Leyton Orient went to a dramatic shootout after they drew 1-1, with Leyton Orient emerging victorious. Charlton Athletic defeated Wycombe Wanderers 1-0 in the second leg of their semi-final, and secured their place in the final.
The one-off League One play-off final will be played at Wembley on May 25, 2025, and after Charlton's 1-0 second-leg victory over Wycombe, it will be Charlton Athletic versus Leyton Orient. The team that wins this match is guaranteed to play in the next tier up (the Championship). Tickets for League One play-off final are in high demand currently.
League Two Play-Offs: Walsall and AFC Wimbledon qualify
The League Two play-offs are going to provide such excitement! Teams that are competing to secure a promotion to League One will be feeling the pressure, and will do everything possible to progress. Walsall and AFC Wimbledon qualified for the final by beating Chesterfield and Notts County in the semi-final respectively.
The semi-final first legs saw AFC Wimbledon winning 1-0 at home against Notts County while Walsall had a 2-0 victory over Chesterfield. Both second legs will have been just as presumably tense. AFC Wimbledon won the second leg 1-0, meaning they had a 2-0 aggregate win and progressed, while Walsall progressed by finishing Chesterfield off, winning 2-1 on aggregate.
Both Walsall and AFC Wimbledon will meet in the League Two play-off final, and the winner will be the final team to be promoted to League One. The match will be held at Wembley, so a great spectacle awaits for both teams, their close followers and fans and it will no doubt be a very special occasion for both clubs.
What is on offer here: Glory and money
The overall prize of moving up a division for all of these clubs in its own right is brilliant. But of course, that is now the 'American' aspect, the money, and promotion can mean immense financial rewards for clubs; for Sunderland, it may be a successful move back into the Premier League, for the League One clubs, and whether it be Charlton Athletic or Leyton Orient, both will want entry to the second tier. These play-offs are very lucrative and the financial implications of getting promoted can include much greater broadcasting income (not that this adds any pressure!), resulting in other opportunities like commercial deals or simply the chance to compete in the higher league with clubs whose budgets are a different level to any of the teams within League Two.
