▲ Provided by K League (Photo: Yonhap News)
The schedule for the semi-playoffs (semi-PO) and playoffs (PO) for K League 2 teams competing for promotion to the top-tier K League 1 this year has been finalized.
In this year's K League 2, the teams finishing in first and second place will advance directly to K League 1 for the next season, while teams ranking 3rd through 6th will enter the semi-PO to continue their promotion battle.
According to the schedule announced by the Korea Professional Football League today (October 27), the Hana Bank K League 2 2026 semi-PO will take place at 7:00 PM on December 2.
In the semi-PO, the 3rd and 6th-placed teams, and the 4th and 5th-placed teams of the regular round will face each other in single-match ties hosted by the higher-ranked teams.
Subsequently, the PO between the winners of the semi-PO matches will be held at 4:30 PM on December 5.
However, the K League 2 PO format and promotion opportunities will vary depending on Gimcheon Sangmu's final standing in K League 1.
As its hometown agreement with Gimcheon City expires this year, Gimcheon Sangmu will be relegated regardless of its final K League 1 ranking.
Accordingly, if Gimcheon finishes at the bottom (12th place) of K League 1, only Gimcheon will be relegated without a separate promotion-relegation playoff, and the K League 2 PO will be conducted over two legs (first and second matches).
In this scenario, the winner of the K League 2 PO will be promoted.
On the other hand, if Gimcheon does not finish in last place, the 12th-placed K League 1 team and the loser of the K League 2 PO will contest the promotion-relegation playoff.
In that case, the K League 2 PO will be held as a single match, with the winning team earning promotion and the losing team given another chance to promote through the promotion-relegation playoff.
The specific schedule for the K League 2 PO and promotion-relegation playoff according to Gimcheon's final ranking will be announced at a later date.
Meanwhile, the dates and times for Round 34 matches, which were left to be determined later when the K League 2 schedule was announced at the beginning of the season, have now been set.
The Round 34 matches will be played over two days on November 28 and 29.
On November 28, the matches between Yongin and Paju, and Gimhae and Seongnam will kick off simultaneously at 2:00 PM. On November 29, matches between Jeonnam and Suwon, Gyeongnam and Seoul E-Land, Suwon FC and Chungbuk Cheongju, Chungnam Asan and Busan, Gimpo and Hwaseong, and Cheonan and Daegu will all kick off simultaneously at 2:00 PM.
(Photo: Provided by K League, Yonhap News)
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