semifinal

A semifinal is a round in a knockout tournament that determines which competitors advance to the final. It involves the remaining four entrants, with the two winners moving on to contest the final and the others being eliminated. The term reflects its position as the “halfway” point before the championship match.

Formats for semifinals vary by sport and competition. They can be single matches or two-leg ties in which each participant plays one home game and the overall winner is decided by aggregate scoring. In two-legged formats, tiebreakers such as extra time, penalties, or away goals rules may be used if the aggregate score is level. The venue and scheduling of semifinals are governed by the competition’s rules and may involve neutral sites or alternating home fields.

The semifinal stage is common across many sports, including football (soccer), basketball, tennis team events, and other knockout formats. Some tournaments also schedule a third-place match for the losers of the semifinals, though this is not universal. The concept is used in national leagues, cup competitions, and international championships, reflecting a critical transition from the broader field to the ultimate contest for the title.

Etymology-wise, the name derives from semi- meaning half, indicating its position before the final. Semifinals thus function as the penultimate hurdle in tournaments that determine a single champion through successive elimination rounds.