English Football League

The English Football League

The English Football League, or EFL, is a group of soccer teams from England and Wales. It started in 1888 and is the oldest soccer league in the world! For many years, it was the top league in England until 1992 when some teams left to start the Premier League.

Today, the EFL has three parts: the Championship, League One, and League Two. Each part has 24 teams, so there are 72 teams in total. Teams can move up or down between these groups each year.

Four teams from Wales—Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham, and Newport County—are part of the EFL. The rest are from England.

The EFL also runs two special cup competitions: the EFL Cup and the EFL Trophy. The main office of the EFL is in Preston, and its business office is in London.

Why People Know About It

The EFL is famous because it was the first place where teams could play each other in a league all year long. It helped make soccer popular in England. Even though the top teams left to form the Premier League, the EFL is still very important for many clubs.

Fun Facts

• The EFL was founded by a director of Aston Villa named William McGregor.
• Teams earn three points for a win, one point for a tie, and no points for a loss.
• The top teams in the Championship can move up to the Premier League.

The EFL is a big part of soccer history and gives many teams a chance to play and grow.