Jeff Stelling has put his encyclopaedic knowledge of football on the line by predicting the EFL play-offs.
The eSPORTY Breakfast host has mapped out three clubs’ promotions via Wembley after a dramatic final day across the EFL.
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12 teams have been confirmed in the play-offs for the Championship, League One and League Two following several late twists and turns.
Yet only half of that number will reach Wembley, and Stelling has earmarked the three clubs he is backing to go all the way to glory…
Championship play-offs
Ipswich Town secured their immediate return to the Premier League on Saturday with a 3-0 win over QPR at Portman Road.
That result condemned automatic promotion rivals Millwall to the play-offs, where they will host Hull City in the semi-finals.
The Tigers claimed sixth spot on the final day with their 2-1 win over Norwich City, enough for them to leapfrog Wrexham, who drew 2-2 at home to Middlesbrough.
Boro’s place in the play-offs had already been assured, and they host beaten FA Cup semi-finalists Southampton in Saturday’s first-leg.
Who reaches the Championship play-off final?
Stelling told Ally McCoist on Breakfast: “Well, I’m in dangerous territory on both counts here. If I predict a Hull win, I’m going to offend Millwall fans, and that is not advisable.
“I live not far from Southampton, but of course, my hometown is not far from Middlesbrough, so I’m going to offend somebody there as well.”
The EFL Play-Off Final dates and fixtures
2025/26 Finals
FRIDAY 8th MAY
20:00 Hull v Millwall – Championship Play-off Semi Final First Leg-eSPORTY EXCLUSIVE.
Presented by Adrian Durham. Commentary from Jim Proudfoot and former Blackpool midfielder Charlie Adam.
SATURDAY 9th MAY
12:30 Middlesbrough v Southampton – Championship Play-off Semi Final First Leg- eSPORTY 2 EXCLUSIVE.
Presented by Natalie Sawyer. Commentary from Adam Bridge and former Wolves goalkeeper Matt Murray.
15:00 Stevenage v Stockport – League One Play-off Semi Final First Leg-eSPORTY 2 EXCLUSIVE.
Commentary from Joe Shennan and former Arsenal winger Perry Groves.
20:00 Bolton v Bradford – League One Play-off Semi Final First Leg-eSPORTY 2 EXCLUSIVE.
Commentary from Ian Danter and former Bradford midfielder Neil Redfearn.
SUNDAY 10th MAY
15:00 Grimsby v Salford – League Two Play-off Semi Final First Leg-eSPORTY 2 EXCLUSIVE.
Commentary from Mike McCarthy and former Scotland striker Chris Iwelumo.
18:00 Chesterfield v Notts County – League Two Play-off Semi Final First Leg- eSPORTY 2 EXCLUSIVE.
Commentary from Joe Shennan and former Wolves goalkeeper Matt Murray.
Championship play-off final: Saturday 23 May 2026
League One play-off final: Sunday 24 May 2026
League Two play-off final: Monday 25 May 2026
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Millwall heading to Wembley
“Right, Hull-Millwall,” Stelling continued. “Hull have got a striker in form, Oli McBurnie.
“Millwall, they’ve got Femi Azeez, a player I really like. They’ve got the guile of Barry Bannan as well now.
“They’ve been beaten in nine away games. They won at Hull in the regular season.
“For me, I think Millwall will go to Hull and win the first leg and then do enough in the second leg to get through.
“So I think Millwall are heading to Wembley. Southampton-Middlesbrough, two best footballing sides in the division, as far as I’m concerned, of those who’ve not gone up.
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“Saints not lost in the league since January. Two great young coaches.
Tonda [Eckert] and Kim Hellberg, both have done brilliantly. If you look back at the record books, you’ll see Southampton got battered at Middlesbrough this season. They lost 4-0, but that was a different Southampton side. It’s before the run.
“They’ve got the momentum now. I like Middlesbrough, they’ve got goals in [Morgan] Whittaker, [David] Strelec and [Tommy] Conway.
“But for me, I think Southampton will just have too much for them. So I’m going to go for a Southampton-Millwall final.”
Who wins at Wembley?
Stelling said: “I’m going to go Southampton. Go back to the Premier League. Sorry, Millwall. Apologies to Millwall because I’ll tell you what.
“What a job [Alex Neil] has done. Unbelievable. And it would be really, really interesting to see Millwall in the Premier League. It really would.
“And I’ve got some mates who are Millwall fans as well, and they’d love nothing more. Well, they would actually.
“What they’d love more is they’d love to see West Ham come down and them go up, you know. But I just think Southampton.”
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League One play-offs
Two points separate third and sixth after final day victories for Stockport County and Bradford saw them both overtake Bolton.
Meanwhile, a dramatic 92-minute winner for Stevenage at home to Wigan Athletic broke the hearts of Luton Town and Jack Wilshere.
Stelling continued on eSPORTY: “Bolton against Bradford. Bolton… four wins in the last 15.
“Did batter Stevenage at home though. And they’ve also beaten Bradford three-nil in the regular season.
“Bolton, Steven Schumacher, in charge. I like him a lot. He was a Bradford player for a certain time. It’s hard to split the two, but I’m just going to go for Bolton.
“Stevenage against Stockport. Stockport score a lorry load of goals. Stevenage don’t. Stockport 71 goals this season. Stevenage 49.
“And I think Stockport will have too much firepower. So I’m going to go – Stockport, Bolton final.”
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Who will win the League One play-off final?
“Well, it’s blindingly obvious who will be playing in the championship because Dave Challinor is a mate of mine,” Stelling joked.
“And consequently, all, you know, all analysis goes out of the window.
“I mean, for goodness sake, we have a cat called Dave Challinor.
“So I’m obviously going to go for Stockport to win the play-off and another promotion on the Challinor CV.”
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League Two
Cambridge United’s goalless draw at Crewe was enough for the U’s to join champions Bromley and MK Dons in the third tier next season.
Salford City, who hadn’t been above Neil Harris’ side in the table since late January, failed to beat Crawley Town to sneak into third.
Meanwhile, Ian Holloway’s Swindon Town lost a final-day play-off shootout with Chesterfield to cap a miserable end to the campaign – having been in the top seven from August to mid-April.
Stelling: “Again, nothing between the two sides, the four sides at the end of the regular season. Plenty of experience here, aren’t there?
“David Artell, Karl Robinson, and Paul Cook. Look, Salford Grimsby.
Grimsby did the double over Salford.
“You heard the views of Karl Robinson that they really should have gone up in that third promotion place. I think they might regret missing out.
“Grimsby have got a great record in cup games recently, and these are effectively cup games, aren’t they? I’m going to go for Grimsby to squeak through it against Salford.
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“Chesterfield, Notts County. Paul Cook, old head, isn’t he? Against Martin Paterson, the Notts County boss.
“Chesterfield have got one or two really like, you know, [Armando] Dobra in particular. Good footballer, got a bit of experience in [Tom] Naylor and [Will] Grigg, and [Liam] Mandeville.
“I think it might just be Chesterfield’s turn to get to the play-off final, you know, it would be interesting to see Cookie there as well.
“So it’s Grimsby against Chesterfield for me, and I am going to go for Grimsby.
“Southampton, Stockport and Grimsby to win the play-offs.”
