Though Coventry City have already clinched the title and promotion, the final day of the 2025/26 Championship season promises plenty of drama, with three teams hunting for the coveted second spot.
All eyes will be on Ipswich Town, Millwall, and Middlesbrough, with the Tractor Boys in the driver’s seat to book the final ticket to the Premier League heading into Sunday’s season finale.
Equally exciting could be the race for the last remaining play-off spot, as Wrexham, Hull City and Derby County vie for a place at Wembley, with just a point separating them ahead of the final kick-off.
Without further ado, let’s take a closer look at the decisive final-day fixtures that could shape the Championship promotion picture.
Second-Place Race
Jack Clarke’s last-gasp equaliser in a breathless 2-2 draw at Southampton on Tuesday could make all the difference for Ipswich, as they enter Matchday 46 a point clear of third-placed Millwall.
An immediate return to the top flight is within reach, as the Tractor Boys face out-of-sorts Queens Park Rangers at Portman Road, knowing a victory would seal the deal.
Sunday’s high-stakes showdown in Suffolk will mark Ashley Young’s farewell game, as the veteran winger announced his retirement at the end of the 2025/26 season.
Helping Ipswich regain their top-flight status just a year after suffering the drop would be a perfect parting gift for the former Manchester United and Aston Villa star.
Unbeaten in their last four league outings, Millwall will make a last-ditch attempt to secure a long-awaited return to the Premier League, hoping QPR can hand them a crucial boost.
However, Alex Neil’s side must hold up their end of the bargain and beat the relegated Oxford United at home, although it may not be enough to fire them back to the top flight for the first time since the 2003/04 season.
Middlesbrough’s wait is not as long, given that they last competed in England’s top tier in 2016/17, yet the Teessiders are in the least favourable position to clinch a sought-after second place.
Trailing Ipswich by two points, Boro need both teams currently above them to falter. Furthermore, they take on the top-six hopefuls, Wrexham, in a mouth-watering clash at Racecourse Ground.
Kim Hellberg’s team should take the field in high spirits after winning their last two matches, including a 5-1 rout of Watford, which doesn’t change the fact that their promotion hopes still depend heavily on results elsewhere.
Top-Six Battle
Unlike their upcoming rivals, who have already secured a place in the post-season play-offs, Wrexham cannot afford a slip-up if they’re to accomplish the ‘greatest sports story ever.’
The Robins are chasing a fourth straight promotion and, even more significantly, a historic first-ever place in the Premier League, having competed in non-league football only three years ago.
Wrexham sit sixth in the Championship standings ahead of the last round, level on points with seventh-placed Hull and only one clear of second-closest followers Derby.
Needless to say, anything other than a victory on home soil would probably spell the end of Phil Parkinson’s hopes of tasting the Wembley atmosphere next month.
However, Hull’s recent form doesn’t inspire confidence, as the Tigers host mid-table Norwich City at MKM Stadium, looking to end a six-game winless league streak.
Manager Sergej Jakirovic must find a way to steer his underperforming side back on track, which could be easier said than done, given that Hull have lost four of their last six matches against the Canaries.
It’s been nearly two decades since Derby last featured in the Premier League, so they will be heavily motivated to pounce on any potential mistake from their rivals.
John Eustace’s men face Sheffield United at Pride Park Stadium, seeking a first set of back-to-back league wins since March after snatching a gutsy 3-2 triumph at QPR last time out.
