In a sport diluted by money, greed and questionable ownerships, the play-offs can provide some respite to English football supporters.

While the Championship play-offs steal most of the headlines come the end of the English Football League (EFL) campaign, there will always be plenty of play-off magic further down the football pyramid.

League One has not been short of drama in recent seasons, especially come play-off time. With some sleeping giants gracing the division and inspiring underdogs competing with them for promotion each season, England’s third tier always boasts a frantic conclusion.

Here is everything you need to know about the 2025 League One play-offs.

Three sides are promoted to the Championship each season, with two earning automatic promotion by finishing first and second and the third club decided by the League One play-offs.

Four teams compete in a mini knockout tournament that sees third place face sixth and fourth take on fifth in two semi-finals. Both semis are made up of two legs, with teams hosting one leg each. The club that finished higher in League One during the regular season hosts the second leg.

The winner of each semi-final is determined by the aggregate score across both legs, with extra-time and penalties in use if the score is tied after the second leg. The away goal rule is not employed for the League One play-offs.

The winners of the two semi-finals then meet in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium, a one-off match to determine who will be promoted to the Championship. Again, the final is decided by extra-time and penalties if regulation time ends in a draw.

The League One play-offs will commence shortly after the conclusion of the 2024/25 season. At the end of the 46-game campaign, the four qualifying teams will generally get a week-long rest before the first leg of the semi-final kicks off.

No dates have been confirmed for the semi-finals as of yet but the final League One matches will be played on 3 May 2025.

Similarly, no official date has been chosen for the League One play-off final but we know it will take place between 24-26 May 2025.

Naturally, the three recently relegated sides will be fighting to return to the Championship in 2024/25, either via automatic promotion or the play-offs. Birmingham City will be among the favourites for the title after their surprise relegation, while Rotherham United and Huddersfield Town will also be hoping for a positive campaign.

Bolton Wanderers lost last season’s play-off final to Oxford United and will be aiming for automatic promotion this time around. Lincoln City, Blackpool and Peterborough United are among the other sides aiming for a strong finish, with the latter losing in the last two play-off semi-finals.

Barnsley lost in the 2023/24 play-off semis as well, having been defeated in the final the previous season.

While nowhere near as lucrative as promotion from the Championship to the Premier League, the winner of the League One play-off final still earns a handsome and sometimes transformative sum.

Teams don’t receive any additional payments for winning the League One play-off final itself but promotion to the Championship comes with a £4.5m to £5.5m increase in revenue at the beginning of the following campaign.

It’s also worth noting TV deals and ticket sales increase significantly when a club goes from the third to second tier.

Somewhat surprisingly, no team has ever won the League One play-off final on more than two occasions. The likes of Sheffield Wednesday, Millwall and Huddersfield are among the clubs to have won it twice.

Brentford and Bristol City boast two of the worst records in League One play-off history, each losing the final itself on three separate occasions.

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