What happens if there’s a tie in the CONCACAF Nations League Finals?

The third edition of the CONCACAF Nations League is about to reach its conclusion, with the semi-finals between the USMNT and Jamaica, and Panama and Mexico, taking place on Thursday (21 March). The final follows three days later on Sunday (24 March).

2023/24 CONCACAF Nations League semi-finals: times and venue

As was the case in the first two editions, the two last-four games will take place back-to-back in the same stadium, which will then host the third-place playoff and the final one after the other. AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas is the venue in question this year.

On Thursday, the United States are first up against Jamaica at 7pm ET, with Gregg Berhalter’s team hoping to continue their perfect record in the competition after winning the 2019/20 and 2022/23 tournaments.

The clash between Panama and Mexico will then follow at 10:15pm ET. The two teams were the losing semi-finalists last time around, with the Mexicans beaten 3-2 in extra-time in a dramatic 2020 final against the USMNT in Denver.

What tie-breakers are used in the CONCACAF Nations League Finals?

In the Nations League semi-finals and final use the same tie-breaker rules. If the two teams are level after 90 minutes, 30 minutes of extra time (two periods of 15 minutes) will be played initially. If they still can’t be separated, a penalty shootout will take place to determine the winner.

In the 2019/20 Nations League Finals, Mexico defeated Costa Rica in a semi-final shootout before losing to the United States in extra time in the showpiece game.

The exception is the third-place playoff. Almost as if to confirm the game is fairly meaningless, there is no extra-time in the bronze medal game, which goes straight to penalties if the teams are level at the end of 90 minutes.