April 25 – The English Football League (EFL) has added a new layer to its digital engagement strategy with the launch of the first-ever Fantasy EFL Play-Offs game, designed to capitalise on the heightened drama of the season’s final promotion play-off weeks.
The new fantasy format builds on the success of the EFL’s inaugural full-season fantasy platform, which attracted more than 120,000 users during the 2023/24 campaign. With the introduction of a Play-Offs-specific edition, the League is offering fans another reason to stay connected across the 15 matches that will decide promotion from the Championship, League One and League Two.
The Fantasy EFL Play-Offs game is now live on fantasy.efl.com and via the Fantasy EFL mobile app, with players able to select teams ahead of the semi-final first legs. The core format – choosing seven players from two clubs – remains, but the high-stakes nature of the play-offs injects a new level of unpredictability and strategy.
The move reflects the EFL’s continued investment in fan engagement and second-screen experiences, as leagues look to maximise retention and reach across digital platforms during key moments in the calendar.
To boost visibility and credibility, the EFL has also enlisted well-known names in football media — including talkSPORT presenter Jeff Stelling — to act as expert players.
Prizes including matchday hospitality, club merchandise, and 2025/26 season tickets will be awarded across the three weeks of the play-offs. The launch is another example of how leagues outside the Premier League are investing in digital gamification to strengthen brand loyalty and boost engagement around their flagship events.
The EFL Championship promotion playoffs are set to begin on Thursday May 8, with the leagues below following suit that same week. The championship playoff final is penned for a month’s time, May 24.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1745655105labto1745655105ofdlr1745655105owedi1745655105sni@g1745655105niwe.1745655105yrrah1745655105