OLYMPIC GAMES | FOOTBALL
What happens if there’s a tie in the soccer semifinal at the 2024 Olympics in Paris?
Morocco play Spain and France face Egypt to ensure either a gold or silver medal in the final, but what if teams cannot be separated in regulation time.
The soccer tournament in the Olympic Games – the event officially being called ‘football’ for all the obvious reasons – has reached its final four teams. Morocco play Spain (who are without one of their teenage superstars) in the first semifinal while hosts France will have a huge backing in the crowds as they hope to overcome Egypt in the other. But what happens if the scores are level after the allocated 90 minutes?
What tie-breakers are used in the Paris 2024 Olympics soccer?
In the knockout stages of the Olympics, each match is decided in a single game lasting 90 minutes. If the teams are tied at the end of regulation time, they proceed to extra time, which spans 30 minutes, divided into two halves of 15 minutes each. This extra time is fully played out regardless of any score changes, unlike when the ‘golden goal’ rule was briefly introduced to the game.
Should the teams remain tied after the extra 30 minutes, the outcome is determined by a penalty shootout. Each team takes five penalties, alternating turns. If the tie persists after these five penalties, they move to sudden-death rounds, where the teams continue to take single penalty kicks until one team scores and the other misses.
When is the Olympic soccer final?
The gold medal game will be played on Friday, August 9 at 12 noon ET.