Välierät

Välierät, or semifinals in English, denote the knockout stage of a tournament that follows the quarterfinals and precedes the final. In Finnish sports coverage, välierät refer to the round where four remaining teams or competitors compete to determine the two finalists.

Typically, the round consists of two matches between each pair of contenders, but formats vary: some tournaments stage semifinals as single-leg contests at a neutral or designated venue, while others use two-legged ties with home and away games and the aggregate score deciding the winner.

In some formats, a tie that finishes level may be decided by extra time, penalty shootouts, or other tiebreaking rules such as the away goals rule, depending on the competition’s regulations. Draws or seeding determine the pairings, and hosting rights may rotate or be assigned by the organizer.

Välierät are a standard feature of cup competitions in Finland, such as the national cup, and they appear in many international and club tournaments, as well as in other sports and increasingly in e-sports. The main purpose of this stage is to reduce the field from four competitors to two for the final, where the champion is ultimately decided.

In everyday usage, välierät is the term athletes, teams, and fans use to refer to the penultimate round of a knockout competition.