Does the Apertura 2025 play-in have extra time and penalties? What happens if there’s a tie
In the play-in, four teams - Tijuana, FC Juárez, Pachuca and Pumas - will fight it out for the final two tickets to the playoffs.
This Thursday marks the start of the knockout stage of the Liga MX Apertura 2025, as four teams battle it out in the play-in round.
Two tickets to the quarterfinals are up for grabs: Tijuana will host Juárez, while Pachuca welcomes Pumas. The winner of the former clash advances directly to the last eight, while the loser will face the winner of the showdown between Pachuca and Pumas for the final spot in the playoffs.
Is there extra time in the play-in?
If the match ends in a draw after 90 minutes, the tie will be decided by penalty kicks, as stipulated in Article 18 of the Liga MX competition regulations. This time around, the only advantage for teams finishing higher in the standings is home-field advantage. Tijuana hold the biggest edge in that regard.
All signs point to this being the last Liga MX tournament featuring the play-in format. It’s practically a done deal that this system will be scrapped, with only the top eight regular-season teams qualifying for the postseason moving forward.
How the play-in format works
The play-in follows the below sequence of matchups:
- First game (play-in A): 7th vs. 8th
The winner punches an immediate ticket to the playoff quarterfinals and is officially seeded as the No. 7 team.
- Second game (play-in B): 9th vs. 10th
The victor earns the right to play one more match for the last available spot.
- Third game
The loser of the 7th vs 8th matchup faces the winner of the 9th vs 10th clash. The winner of this game claims the final playoff berth as the No. 8 seed.
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