Concacaf Champions Cup final: What happens if there’s a draw - extra-time or penalties?
Fans are wondering how the rules will impact this year’s final, as the tournament’s format has changed since shifting to a single-match title decider.
en.as.comHere’s the latest on the away goals rule in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
- Position of the rule: As of 2026, CONCACAF continued to use away goals as a primary tiebreaker in two-legged rounds, with the away goal count providing an advantage if teams are level on aggregate after both legs. The exact sequence after a two-legged tie typically follows: aggregate tie → more away goals advances → if still tied, proceed to extra time and then penalties (final usually handled as a single-match decider, depending on format that year).[3][4]
- Final format note: The 2025 edition featured a single-match final at a neutral site, with standard knockout procedures applying if the match was tied at the end of regulation, often going to extra time and penalties rather than using away goals in extra time.[4]
- Recent developments: Several outlets in 2025–2026 discussed the away goals rule in CONCACAF in the context of evolving formats and comparisons to UEFA’s changes, but CONCACAF retained away goals as a primary criterion in most rounds, with the final’s decider handled as a separate, single match.[5][3]
Illustration
- Scenario: Tie on aggregate after two legs, team A scored 2 away goals, team B scored 1 away goal. Team A advances on away goals, no extra time needed. If both teams had 2 away goals each, the tie would go to extra time and penalties as per the tournament rules in effect for that year.[3][5]
If you’d like, I can pull the most current official CONCACAF regulations or summarize recent match reports to confirm the precise procedures for the 2026 edition and the exact handling of extra time in the final. Please tell me which format you prefer (official regulation language, a plain-English summary, or a side-by-side rule comparison).