A 3rd place playoff is a match between the two teams that lose in the semi-finals of a tournament. It determines which team finishes third.
In LeagueRepublic, you can add this match by inserting an extra round after the semi-finals and configuring the semi-final losers to progress into that round.
This guide explains how to add a Third Place Playoff round to an existing knockout tournament.
When You Might Use a 3rd Place Playoff
Many competitions include a third-place match to decide final rankings.
Example tournament structure:
Round | Teams |
Semi-finals | 4 teams |
Final | 2 winners |
3rd Place Playoff | 2 losing semi-finalists |
The winners of the semi-finals progress to the Final, while the losing teams play each other for third place.
Step 1 - Insert a New Round in the Knockout Stage
Go to Admin Home
Find the tournament and click Manage
On the Rounds page, click Insert Round
Create the new round with the following settings:
Round Name: Third Place Playoff
Number of Legs: 1 (normally one match)
Insert Round Option: After → Semi-Final
Max Entrants: 2
This creates the additional playoff round in the tournament structure.
Step 2 - Send Semi-Final Losers to the Third Place Playoff
Now configure which teams enter the new round.
On the Rounds page, find the Third Place Playoff round
Click Change how teams enter this round
In the dropdown select:
Stage: Knockout
Round: Semi-Final - Loser
Then click Add.
This means that the two teams who lose in the semi-finals will automatically progress to the Third Place Playoff round.
Step 3 - Confirm the Final Uses Semi-Final Winners
You should also confirm that the Final round receives the winners of the semi-finals.
On the Rounds page, find the Final round
Click Change how teams enter this round
In the dropdown select:
Stage: Knockout
Round: Semi-Final - Winner
Then click Add.
Now the tournament progression will work correctly.
Step 4 - Schedule the Match
Once the rounds are configured:
Go to the Matches tab in the tournament schedule maker
Assign the two semi-final losing teams to the Third Place Playoff tie
Create the match and schedule it as normal
The tournament will now include a 3rd place playoff match.
Example Tournament Structure
After setup, the knockout stage may look like this:
Round | Teams |
Quarter-finals | 8 teams |
Semi-finals | 4 teams |
Final | 2 winners |
3rd Place Playoff | 2 losing semi-finalists |
This structure ensures that the tournament produces rankings for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to create the playoff before the tournament starts?
No. You can insert the Third Place Playoff round at any time before the semi-finals are completed.
Can the playoff be played over two legs?
Yes. When inserting the round, change Number of Legs from 1 to 2.
Will teams automatically appear in the playoff?
Yes. Once progression is set to Semi-Final - Loser, the losing teams will automatically populate the round.
Can I rename the playoff round?
Yes. You can call it 3rd Place Match, Bronze Final, or any name your competition uses.