At the 2026-27 EFL season launch in Manchester, several EFL players and managers gave their thoughts on the change.

Nigel Clough, manager of League One side Mansfield Town, expected the format to be used in League One and League Two in future seasons, but was not keen on the expansion.

“If you come third and are 20 points away from eighth and in the same competition for the last few games, that does seem a little bit unfair, but it does keep the season alive for so many teams,” he said.

“With how close League One was last year, you could be fighting relegation and trying to make the play-offs at the same time. How far do you take it?

“There must be a reward for your 46 games. I know there is for the top two, but maybe going to top eight is a bit far for my liking because if you are the third-best team after 46 games you should get some reward.”

Derby striker Rhian Brewster, whose side finished eighth in the Championship last season, said: “It will be good as some teams will have slow starts and kick on and could have a chance of getting in the play-offs this year and going up.

“It is going to be harder but you could be near the bottom and go on a run and finish eighth or seventh. You want to finish first or second, but if you end up in the play-offs then win the play-offs.”

Burnley and former England defender Kyle Walker played in the 2009 Championship play-off final.

He was featuring for Sheffield United, who had finished third in the league, and they lost 1-0 in the Wembley final to Burnley.

He was in favour of the new format and said: “I think it’s good, more chances for more people, but first of all you don’t want to be involved in the play-offs.

“I’ve been involved in it and it’s a roulette, anything can happen. Make sure you make a gap between first, second and let the rest deal with it themselves.”

Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray scored in the 2000 Championship play-off final as his Ipswich Town side beat Barnsley 4-2 to win promotion into the Premier League.

“I think it’s good and keeps the dreams alive for fans and a lot of football teams. You could be sitting 10th, 12th or 14th but still be three points off the top eight and two wins back-to-back and you can catapult yourselves in,” Mowbray said.

“People have to dream, they have to have a reason why they want to go and believe they can still do it. For me, it’s only positive. The argument is you could have a team finishing eighth and getting promoted, but good luck to them.

“Sunderland when they scraped through the play-offs [in 2025], Coventry in the semi-finals over two legs were the better team but Dan Ballard got them through with a header right at the death.

“Then, at Wembley, Sheffield United might have been the better team over 90 minutes and they [Sunderland] got there. Then they spent £180m and are now playing in Europe so it can happen to any team.”

Nottingham Forest have signed Ivory Coast defender Ousmane Diomande from Portuguese club Sporting in a deal worth a reported £34m.

The 22-year-old has signed a four-year contract with Forest, who have an option for a further year.

“I am very happy to be here. It is a historic club, and it motivates me to join such a club,” said Diomande, who played for his country at the 2026 World Cup.

“I believe we can achieve very good things this season and I am looking forward to meeting the players and head coach. I will give my best.”

Diomande made 132 first-team appearances for the Lisbon club and has 15 caps for Ivory Coast.

More to follow.

Infantino has shown no desire to step down, but there is a chance that his time in charge could be over by the autumn.

That could come to pass if Fifa Council members try to force his resignation at an emergency meeting.

Such a meeting can be called, and must take place within a fortnight, if 19 of the 37 members call for it.

The council is made up of nine members from Uefa, seven from AFC, six from Caf, five from Concacaf, five from Conmebol, and three from Oceania. Also on the panel are Infantino himself and Fifa secretary general Mattias Grafstrom.

Given its makeup, then, this approach is probably unlikely.

Which leaves the possibility of a candidate standing against Infantino next March. Nobody has put their name forward yet, but if the leaders of Uefa, Concacaf, and AFC are serious about toppling Infantino, uniting behind a single candidate is likely their best option.

The deadline for a candidate to announce their intention to stand is November.

Historically, other confederations have been angered by European dominance of football, its competitions and its wealth.

That is perhaps why Concacaf president Victor Montagliani has been consistently mooted as the most likely challenger to Infantino in recent weeks.

The map of votes could change significantly based on who stands.

If AFC president Sheikh Salman were to step forward, for example, there is a chance that could sway some of the associations in Asia that are currently supportive of Infantino towards him.

For now, the global picture remains unclear because of emerging splits within confederations, the potential for key players to declare one way or another in the coming months and the hitherto lack of a clear candidate to challenge Infantino.

What is clear is that Infantino is no longer coasting towards a fourth term, if he clings on that long.