Which English soccer teams have been promoted and relegated after the 2021-22 season? Who’s in the Football League playoffs? Which Premier League teams have made it into Europe?

We’re going to track everything here until it’s all said and done. But first, some quick background.

Updated May 24, 2022 with National League playoffs.

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How Does Promotion and Relegation Work in English Soccer?

The short version is that at the end of each season, the top three teams in each league go up a league for the next season, and the bottom three drop down a league. And there are a lot of leagues up and down the so-called pyramid of English football. There are some variables on this, like playoffs being involved to settle some promotions, plus the question of where the top teams in the top league get “promoted to.”

We’ll get to those, but here’s a complete explanation of how promotion and relegation work in England:

English Football League Playoffs

Yes, English soccer has playoffs — not to determine champions, but to determine some promotion spots. For example, in the Championship, the second-tier league just below the Premier League, the top two finishers automatically go up, then numbers 3 through 6 battle it out for the third spot. The final of that mini tournament, played at Wembley Stadium, is often called the “richest game in world football,” as the winner gets a share of the Premier League TV money.

Here’s more about the playoffs.

Here are the Promotions and Relegations from the 2020-21 Season

“Getting into Europe” or, Promotion from the Premier League

Since the Premier League is the top league in England, where do its top teams go “up” to? The answer is European competitions — and the same is true for leagues all over the continent, like Germany’s Bundesliga, Spain’s La Liga and Italy’s Serie A.

This is what is meant by the phrase “getting into Europe,” or getting into “the European places” at the top of the Premier League. In England, it basically breaks down like this:

Here’s more about getting into Europe.

Watch the Champions League o Paramount+ in the United States.

Watch the Champions League on Paramount+ in the United States.

English Football Promotions and Relegations, 2021-22 Season

Premier League: European Places

Champions League:

  • Manchester City
  • Liverpool
  • Chelsea
  • Tottenham

Europa League:

  • Arsenal
  • Manchester United

Europa Conference League:

  • West Ham

Here’s the final Premier League table from the BBC.

Watch All the EFL Playoffs on ESPN+!Advertisement

From the Premier League down to the Championship

  • Norwich City
  • Watford
  • Burnley

From the Championship up to the Premier League

  • Fulham (Champions)
  • Bournemouth

Championship Playoffs:

  • Nottingham Forest eliminated Sheffield United on penalty kicks after drawing the tie, 3-3.
  • Huddersfield Town eliminated Luton Town, 2-1.

The Playoff Final is May 29 at Wembley: Huddersfield Town vs Nottingham Forest.

Here’s the final Championship table from the BBC.

From the Championship down to League One

  • Barnsley
  • Peterborough
  • Derby County

League One Promotions, Relegations, and Playoffs

Promoted to the Championship:

  • Wigan Athletic (Champions)
  • Rotherham United
  • Sunderland (via the playoff)

League One Playoffs:

  • Wycombe Wanderers eliminated MK Dons, 2-1.
  • Sunderland eliminated Sheffield Wednesday, 2-1.

Playoff Final: Sunderland 2-0 Wycombe Wanderers.

Relegated to League Two:

  • Gillingham
  • Doncaster Rovers
  • AFC Wimbledon
  • Crewe Alexandra

Here’s the final League One table.

League Two Promotions, Relegations, and Playoffs

Promoted to League One:

  • Forest Green Rovers (Champions)
  • Exeter City
  • Bristol Rovers, who won 7-0 at home on the final day to overcome a five-goal differential and move ahead of Northampton Town.

League Two Playoffs:

  • Mansfield Town eliminated Northampton Town, 3-1.
  • Port Vale eliminated Swindon Town on penalty kicks after the tie finished 2-2.

Playoff Final: May 28 at Wembley: Mansfield Town vs Port Vale.

Relegated to the National League:

  • Oldham Athletic
  • Scunthorpe United

From the National League up to the Football League Two

  • Stockport County (champions)

Wrexham and Solihull Moors finished 2nd and 3rd, thus are in the playoffs semifinals.

Playoff Quarterfinals:

  • Chesterfield eliminated Halifax Town, 2-11
  • Grimsby Town eliminated Notts County, 2-1

Playoff Semifinals:

  • Chesterfield vs Solihull Moors
  • Wrexham vs Grimsby Town

The Playoff Final is June 5 at London Stadium.

Here’s the final National League table from the BBC.

Learn more about English soccer:

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