2025 K League 2 Playoff Race Watch: Alternative Round 31 Preview

With the third and final round robin of the 2025 Hana Bank K League 2 season now well underway, the race for the playoffs and promotion as a whole gathers pace. With four playoff spots up for grabs, at least seven teams will feel as though they have a genuine chance of extending their seasons. What are the key matches in the playoff race this weekend as the season reaches Round 31?

Key Promotion Race Matches

Chungnam Asan (9th) vs. Suwon Samsung Bluewings (2nd)
Saturday 27th September - 16:30 KST

Suwon Bluewings have been perched in second place since Round 14, but with the likes of Bucheon FC 1995, Busan IPark, and Seongnam FC in more consistent form, a bye through to the playoff against 11th in K League 1 is not guaranteed. The Bluewings are six points clear of third and need to put the loss to Gyeongnam behind them as soon as possible. This weekend, the Bluewings face a Chungnam Asan side that has little more than pride to play for between now and the end of the season, given the Owls are 11 points behind the playoff spots. The Bluewings beat Chungnam Asan on their last visit to Yisunsin Stadium, 3-2, thanks to goals from Serafim, Lee Min-hyuk, and Bruno Silva. Suwon have just as many away wins as they have at home (8), and the same number of goals (28), but tend to concede more on the road. Byun Sung-hwan's men have registered the highest number of shots on target per match with five, the third-highest possession with 53.5%, but also rank first for big chances missed with 18. 

Watch live on League TV: here

[OFFICIAL: 2025 K League 2 Round 31 Preview]

Seoul E-Land (8th) vs. Incheon United (1st)
Sunday 28th September - 19:00 KST

A match that's important to both teams sees Seoul E-Land take on Incheon United. Seoul E-Land sit eighth in the table, but only three points behind the playoff spots. The Leopards will have to put the disappointment of conceding two late goals away to Bucheon last time out behind them, and put their best foot forward at home to a side that has shown some vulnerabilities of late. Incheon United are the league leaders, and it is only a matter of time before the Durumi seal their place back in K League 1. But Yoon Jong-hwan's men have just two wins from their last five and have suffered three losses in six. It's not uncommon for runaway league leaders to lose a bit of momentum as the season draws to a close, but Incheon will need to rediscover their form from the second round robin. But Incheon will feel as though they didn't get their just rewards in the loss to Gimpo, having had 23 total shots and 11 on target from 72% possession. The Leopards, meanwhile, have issues at the other end of the field. A total of 41 goals conceded is the second-highest among the top 10 in the division.

Watch live on League TV: here

[READ: Seoul E-Land’s Late-Summer Slide]

Hwaseong FC (10th) vs. Busan IPark (4th)
Sunday 28th September - 16:30

Busan IPark are having a better season thus far than at this stage last season. Compared to 2024, when the Royals finished fifth but were knocked out in the playoffs by Jeonnam, Jo Sung-hwan's side have one more win and six more points compared to this stage last year. This has been helped by a recent surge in form that has seen the south coast side pick up four wins from their last six, having gone one win in eight before that. If Busan hold their nerve, a place in the playoffs for the second season in a row beckons. But with Seongnam, Jeonnam, and Gimpo all within just one point away, there is no margin for error. Busan score highly for shots on target per match (4.6, 3rd), and for interceptions per match (8.6, 2nd), as well as possession won in the final third per match (3.6, 1st). This weekend, Busan take on Hwaseong FC, a side that is on a run of seven unbeaten and with just one loss in 11. Busan won the first meeting of the season 3-2 in April but lost 1-0 in Hwaseong in July.

Watch live on League TV: here

[READ: Will K League 2 go down to the final day?]

K League 2 Playoffs - How do they work?

Second place, or the K League 2 runners-up, will face 11th in K League 1 in a two-leg playoff. The winners will play in K League 1 next season, the losers will play in K League 2

Third down to fifth will compete to face 10th in K League 1. Third will get a bye of sorts to the next round, then fourth play fifth over one leg, with fourth at home and only needing a draw. Third faces the winners of fourth versus fifth over one leg, again with the home team only needing a draw. The winners of that contest then face 10th in K League 1 over two legs.

Where to Watch K League 2

Watch all matches live on TV.KLeague.com.