As the 2025-26 EFL Championship season reaches its halfway mark, the competition for promotion to the Premier League is intensifying, with several teams displaying remarkable performances.
Leading the charge are Coventry City, who are on the verge of breaking a 39-year wait for a major trophy, having last lifted the FA Cup in 1987. The Sky Blues, who have faced significant financial challenges over the years, find themselves poised to return to the Premier League for the first time since their relegation in 2001. Under the management of Frank Lampard, the team has been prolific in front of goal this season, with USMNT striker Haji Wright making vital contributions.
Meanwhile, Wrexham is making headlines with their pursuit of an impressive fourth consecutive promotion. Just a few years removed from non-league football, the club, co-owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, is in contention for both automatic promotion and playoff spots. Kieffer Moore, a former striker for Bournemouth, has been instrumental for Wrexham, and he is a strong candidate for the Golden Boot this season.
Additionally, the championship includes recently relegated teams. Ipswich Town and Leicester City are both grappling for promotion in a fiercely competitive upper half of the table, while Southampton is struggling after a managerial shake-up just 13 matches into the season.
Although it is still too early to determine which teams will face relegation from the Premier League, anticipation is building for who will emerge to take their place in the top flight.
The current promotion standings are as follows:
1. Coventry City — 52 points, +28 goal difference (GD) — Automatic promotion spot
2. Middlesbrough — 49 points, +12 GD — Automatic promotion spot
3. Ipswich Town — 44 points, +18 GD — Playoff position
4. Preston North End — 43 points, +11 GD — Playoff position
5. Millwall — 43 points, -4 GD — Playoff position
6. Watford — 41 points, +8 GD — Playoff position
Teams vying for a playoff berth include Hull City, Stoke City, Wrexham, Bristol City, Queens Park Rangers, Leicester City, and Derby County, all demonstrating that the race for promotion is far from over.