How does a penalty shoot-out work in the Leagues Cup final? Tie-breaker rules for penalties

We’ve already seen plenty of drama from this year’s Leagues Cup. There’s been big scores, stunning strikes and shock exits, all leading up to Sunday’s final between the Columbus Crew and LAFC.

The Crew and LAFC are undoubtedly two of the strongest teams in MLS, having contested last year’s MLS Cup final. They do battle again with Leagues Cup glory on the line, although the rules are a little different in this competition.

If the scores are tied at the end of the regulation 90 minutes plus stoppage time, there is no period of extra-time to help decide a winner. Instead, in the event of a tie the Leagues Cup final will go straight to a penalty shoot-out.

Both teams have already faced penalties in this year’s comPetition, with varying degrees of success. The Crew needed a penalty shoot-out victory over New York City FC to advance from a hard-fought quarter-final. Meanwhile LAFC lost in a group stage shoot-out to Vancouver Whitecaps, but their earlier victory over Club Tijuana was enough to see them through to the knock-out rounds.

What happened in the 2023 Leagues Cup final?

This year’s edition of the MLS-Liga MX tournament is the second in it’s recently-expanded format, with all 47 top flight teams in the American and Mexican leagues taking part.

Last year was a ground-breaking tournament, and not just for the change of format. It was in the 2023 Leagues Cup that Lionel Messi made his debut for Inter Miami. His impact was immediate.

Messi scored nine goals to drag a struggling Miami to the final, where they met Nashville SC. The Argentine was on the scoresheet again with a stunning individual goal, but Nashville levelled through Fafà Picault. Leonardo Campana missed a golden chance to win the game in the final moments of the game, meaning that the 2023 Leagues Cup final would be decided by penalties.

A high-intensity shoot-out saw all ten outfield players take spot kicks, before Nashville goalkeeper Elliot Panicco missed his penalty and gave the Herons’ Drake Callender the chance to make history. Callender converted and Inter Miami won their very first piece of silverware.