So, the EFL Championship is the second-highest division of professional football in England, right below the Premier League. It's part of the English Football League (EFL), which also includes League One and League Two. There are 24 teams in the Championship, and they all play against each other to get to the top or avoid the bottom.

Here’s how it works:

1. League Format

Each team plays 46 matches in total — 23 at home and 23 away. The season runs from August to May. Every time a team wins a match, they get 3 points; if they draw, they get 1 point; and if they lose, they get 0 points. After all the games are played, the teams are ranked by their total points.

2. Promotion to the Premier League

The top two teams at the end of the season automatically get promoted to the Premier League. That’s the dream for most Championship teams — getting to play in the big league with all the extra exposure and money!

Then, there’s a bit of extra drama with the play-offs. The teams that finish 3rd to 6th get a chance to compete in the play-offs for the third and final promotion spot. The format goes like this:

• 3rd vs 6th and 4th vs 5th in two-legged semi-finals.
• The winners of those matches then face off in a final at Wembley Stadium for the chance to grab that last Premier League spot.

3. Relegation to League One

On the flip side, the bottom three teams (19th to 24th place) get relegated to League One (which is the third tier of English football). So, not only are teams fighting for promotion, but they’re also battling to stay out of the relegation zone to avoid dropping down to a lower league.

4. What’s at Stake?

The Championship is a really competitive league. The teams in the middle of the table might not get promoted, but they’re still fighting for things like better positioning, financial bonuses, or just the pride of finishing higher up. Even the teams at the bottom don’t give up because, along with avoiding relegation, there’s always the chance to have a decent cup run or improve for the following season.

5. Interesting Facts

• The league has a ton of tradition and history, and some famous teams that have been relegated from the Premier League, like Norwich, Sunderland, or Stoke, have spent time in the Championship.
• The matches are often high-paced and physical because the teams know they’re so close to reaching the top or falling down a division.
• The play-off final at Wembley is one of the most exciting games of the year. The winning team can see a huge financial windfall from Premier League TV deals, sponsorships, and gate receipts.

So yeah, the Championship is full of drama, with teams playing for both glory and survival. It’s a bit like a rollercoaster with a lot of twists and turns, and fans love the unpredictability of it all!

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