The EFL is set to take centre stage domestically as Leagues One and Two play on throughout the duration of the World Cup, with ALL games available to watch via streaming or on TV, if fans cannot get to the game.
With action in the top two tiers paused, full League One and Two programmes will take place on the 18-19 November and 2-4 December, with fans able to watch Saturday 3pm kick-offs via Club streaming platforms over the World Cup period.
The increased availability comes due to the Saturday afternoon closed window (Article 48) not applying during the tournament, meaning that where fans cannot get to a match, then there is still an opportunity to watch EFL teams in action.
Sky Sports will be kicking off its EFL coverage during the World Cup with Portsmouth v Derby County on Friday 18 November, Exeter City v Ipswich Town on Saturday 19 November and Wycombe Wanderers v Portsmouth on Sunday 4 December.
The Sky Bet Championship will resume alongside Leagues One and Two after the World Cup group stages, meaning fans will be able to attend over 120 EFL league matches between Saturday 19 November and Saturday 17 December, while the Premier League schedule takes a break.
Sky Sports will show seven live matches across the weekends of 10 December and 16 December, with all remaining Championship matches across that period available for streaming, at the discretion of the home Club.
EFL Chief Executive Trevor Birch said: “With EFL fixtures continuing throughout the World Cup, we have a fantastic opportunity to showcase our competition, with supporters able to enjoy more access to watch their Club play, whether at the ground, in the pub or at home.
“While the winter World Cup has brought challenges for domestic leagues, for the EFL it also brings this opportunity to test how the streaming of live matches during traditionally blocked hours is received by fans that wish to watch their team, wherever they may be.”
The following games have been selected for broadcast by Sky Sports during the World Cup period:
- Portsmouth v Derby County – Friday 18 November
- Exeter City v Ipswich Town – Saturday 19 November
- Wycombe Wanderers v Portsmouth – Sunday 4 December
- Blackburn Rovers v Preston North End – Sunday 10 December
- Queens Park Rangers – Sunday 11 December
- Sunderland v West Bromwich Albion – Monday 12 December
- Birmingham City v Reading – Friday 16 December
- Norwich City v Blackburn Rovers – Saturday 17 December
- Luton Town v Millwall – Sunday 18 December
- Wigan Athletic v Sheffield United – Monday 19 December
Additionally, all Papa Johns Trophy matches on Tuesday 22 November will be streamed on iFollow or Clubs’ streaming services.
The EFL during the World Cup:
- 121 matches played across Sky Bet Championship, League One and League Two
- 10 matches live on Sky Sports
- 93 League One and League Two matches available for streaming on iFollow or Clubs’ streaming services
- 18 Championship matches available for streaming, at the discretion of the home Club
- All Papa Johns Trophy matches available for streaming