Athletic's EFL Championship hub leans on puzzles and memorabilia listings as news feed runs dry

What the page actually shows

A visit to The Athletic's EFL Championship landing page this week reveals little in the way of live football journalism. Instead of fresh match reports, fixtures, scores or transfer rumours, the section is dominated by promotional material and interactive filler.

The most prominent feature is a daily word game, Connections: Soccer Edition, which invites readers to “Group soccer terms that share a common thread. A new puzzle is available each day.” The game is presented as a recurring engagement tool rather than a news item.

Marketplace listings crowd the feed

Beneath the puzzle, the page is given over to a string of sports memorabilia advertisements, with several high-value trading cards listed for sale:

A 2016 Panini Prizm UEFA Euro Dual Italy Gold card featuring Andrea Pirlo and Gianluigi Buffon, listed at $350.00 (ungraded).
A 1997 Topps Chrome Refractor Derek Jeter rookie cup card, graded PSA 8, at $999.00.
A 1997-98 SPx Brent Barry “Grand Finale” 49/50 rarity, at $999.99.
A 2023-24 Panini One And One Luka Doncic “Downtown” horizontal variation, at $1,550.00.

The listings are interspersed with repeated “Skip Advertisement” placeholders, confirming that the page is functioning as a commercial section front rather than a breaking-news destination.

No fresh Championship news to report

Despite the section's headline promise of “Fixtures, Scores, Stats, and Rumors,” no specific EFL Championship matches, results or transfer developments are detailed in the current feed. Readers seeking up-to-the-minute Championship coverage will find the page offering puzzles and collectibles in place of reporting.