Are there away goals in the CONCACAF Champions League? What happens if a series ends in a tie in total goals?

While the UEFA Champions League axed goals for the 2022 competition, deciding that the rule did not produce the intended result, the North American competition made no such decision.

Unlike the European competition of the same name, the away goals rule still applies to all two-legged encounters in the competition in the CONCACAF Champions League. There is one notable exception, however.

The CONCACAF Champions League final, which has become a two-legged affair again after just a 90-minute game for the 2020 and 2021 tournaments, does not count away goals. Away goals are used as tiebreakers for the round of 16, quarterfinals and semifinals.

In addition, overtime will not be used for these three knockout stages in the event of an equal aggregate result with an even number of away goals. If the score is equal after 180 minutes and away goals cannot separate the teams, the game goes straight to a penalty shoot-out.

MORE: No away goals in UEFA Champions League or Europa League

However, as with away goals, this rule changes for the final, with extra time used in the event of a tied aggregate after 180 minutes of play. If it remains the same after extra time, a penalty shootout will be contested.

Are there away goals in the CONCACAF Champions League?

The rules of the CONCACAF Champions League state:

12.7.1 If the total number of goals between the two teams is equal at the end of regular time of the second leg, the tie-breaker criteria will be determined as follows:

12.7.1.1 Greater number of away goals scored in the two games in regulation time;

12.7.1.2 If still a tie, penalty shootouts will be conducted in accordance with the IFAB Laws of the Game.

As previously mentioned, the rules are changing for the finals, which will also be played in the classic home-and-home format.

The bar for the final is higher and the eventual champions can’t count on the away goals tie-break. It must be earned on the field (or through penalties):

12.8.1 Away goals have no value in the final tournament.

12.8.2 If the total number of goals between the two teams is equal at the end of regulation time in the second leg, two 15-minute overtime periods are played.

[…] 12.8.4 If the result is still a tie after the 2nd overtime, penalty shootouts will be conducted in accordance with the IFAB Laws of the Game.