With Ipswich Town, Millwall and Middlesbrough all in with a chance of finishing second, we ask the Opta supercomputer who will clinch automatic promotion from the Championship.
Absolutely nothing against Ipswich Town, but neutrals will have been very disappointed to see Jack Clarke’s late equaliser for the Tractor Boys at Southampton on Tuesday.
Had Saints held on to win, it would have set up a scenario heading into the final matchday of the Championship regular season whereby four teams fighting over the one remaining automatic promotion slot would have been separated by just one point.
However, Clarke’s goal secured a valuable 2-2 draw for Ipswich, who go into Saturday’s final day in the driving seat.
Millwall are just a point behind, while Middlesbrough are a further point behind the Lions. Southampton must now settle for a play-off place in a disappointing week after a brave defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-finals last Saturday.
The relegation places are confirmed, with Sheffield Wednesday, Leicester City and Oxford United all heading to League One, while Frank Lampard’s Coventry City have already won the title, but who will join them?
We’ve asked the Opta supercomputer to predict the final outcome of the most unpredictable league in 2025-26.
Who Will Get Promoted from the Championship?
It has been a fascinating promotion race with plenty of ups and downs, and going into the final day, we’re left with three teams who can join Coventry in the Premier League.
Ipswich have responded well to relegation from the top flight last season, and are the favourites to bounce back at the first time of asking.
Millwall have been a real surprise package, winning 23 Championship games this season – their most at this level since they won 25 games in 1987-88, when they won the title.
Middlesbrough fans would arguably be the most disappointed to miss out. Before Saturday’s games, they’ll have spent 217 nights in the top two this season, which is more than any other team, including Coventry (215). Ipswich will have spent 26 nights in the top two this season, while Millwall have been there for just seven.
Despite slipping down the table in recent times, Boro have clawed their way back into slight contention. Their 2-2 draw at Ipswich was followed by wins over Sheffield Wednesday (1-0) and Watford (5-1) to give them an outside chance of sneaking into the top two.
But who needs what?
So, a win for Ipswich will see them claim second place. If they draw, then Millwall can overtake them with a victory, while a loss for Ipswich would also open the door to Middlesbrough (assuming Boro don’t win their game by at least six goals, in which case they can overtake Ipswich on goal difference if the latter draw).
Due to goal difference, Millwall can only go up with a win, also needing Ipswich to drop points. Middlesbrough must win and (realistically) need Ipswich to lose and Millwall to draw or lose.
Ipswich welcome Queens Park Rangers to Portman Road, with the Hoops having lost their last three games. QPR are well and truly on the beach, which should play into the hosts’ hands.
It bodes well for Ipswich that, excluding the curtailed 2019-20 season, they are unbeaten in their final league game of their last six non-Premier League campaigns (W4 D2) since a 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in 2016-17.
Probably more significant is the fact Ipswich have lost just one of their last 43 home Championship matches (W28 D14), which was a 3-0 defeat to Charlton Athletic in October.
With Millwall at home to already-relegated Oxford United, though, Kieran McKenna’s men will have to assume they need to win to clinch promotion.
They beat QPR 4-1 at Loftus Road in November, and according to the Opta supercomputer, have a 63.6% chance of winning again on Saturday. More importantly, though, the supercomputer saw Ipswich secure second spot in 73.7% of its 10,000 simulations.
Something that could make Millwall nervous is their recent record on the last day. The Lions have lost their final league game in four of the last five seasons (W1), and they’re winless in their last four league meetings with Oxford (D2 L2). They drew 2-2 in the reverse fixture in November.
Alex Neil’s men could have been in pole position on the final day, but an unexpected 1-1 draw at already-relegated Leicester last Friday scuppered that. The supercomputer has given them a 62.9% chance of beating Oxford, and a 24.1% chance of finishing the season in second place.
Middlesbrough are very much the outsiders heading into Saturday. Not only are they behind both Ipswich and Millwall, they’re the only one of the three playing their final game away from home, and they’re also the only one facing an opponent with something still to play for.
Wrexham currently sit in the last play-off spot, but can still be overtaken by Hull City and/or Derby County, so they will be looking to win at the STōK Cae Ras. It will be a tough assignment for Boro, but Kim Hellberg’s side have enough motivation of their own.
These two could end up meeting in the play-offs, but Middlesbrough will certainly be hoping that isn’t the case as it’ll mean they’ve missed out on automatic promotion. They have a 33.1% chance of taking three points away from Wales, but given they will also need two unlikely results to go for them elsewhere, the supercomputer only had them finishing second in 2.2% of sims.
But then this is the Championship, and anything can (and often does) happen.
Enjoy this? Add Opta Analyst as a preferred source by clicking here.
Subscribe to our football newsletter to receive exclusive weekly content. You should also follow our social accounts over on X, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.
Championship 2025-26 Final Day: Who Will Win Automatic Promotion to the Premier League? Opta Analyst.
Hence then, the article about championship 2025 26 final day who will win automatic promotion to the premier league was published today ( ) and is available on The Analyst ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Championship 2025-26 Final Day: Who Will Win Automatic Promotion to the Premier League? )
Also on site :