What the promotion play-off is in ELDT
The promotion play-off is a match between a team fighting for promotion and one from the division above fighting against relegation. If the lower side wins, the two swap divisions.
Instead of the sides at the top going down automatically, some formats make them earn survival against the best of the level below. It is one of the tensest matches of the year, because one goes up and the other goes down.
In ELDT the play-off arrives with Season 3 (7 January 2027). In every 16-club league the runner-up plays for promotion against one of the sides that finished 9th to 12th in the league above. The 9th is paired with the weakest runner-up and the 12th with the strongest. It is a single match, at the home of the club from the higher division. If it ends level it is decided on penalties, counted kick by kick in the report. If the lower side wins, they swap divisions.
With the play-off, 9 of the 16 clubs in a league have something to play for until the end: 1st, 2nd, 9th to 12th and 13th to 16th. While the level below is not complete there is no play-off in that league, and each league table shows the rule that applies.
See it in the game: the manager's guide.
Related terms
More on Competitions
See also: online football manager · guides on the blog