semifinals
Round before finals
Semifinals are the round of competition immediately before the final, where winners advance to compete for the championship.
In tournaments with elimination brackets, the semifinals typically feature four remaining competitors or teams paired in two matches.
The term applies across sports, academic competitions, and other contests with bracketed progression.
Both semifinals went to overtime.
She lost in the semifinals but still earned a bronze medal.
Support or category
- quarterfinalsPenultimate four matches
- finalsConcluding tests or matches
- playoffsChampionship elimination series
- knockoutIncapacitating final blow
matchup · elimination · round · qualifiers · draw · seeding · fixture · contenders
Organized cooperative groups
- athletesSports competitors
- coachesThose who instruct athletes
- arenaVenue for contests
- stadiumLarge venue for spectators
spectators · scoreboard · halftime · overtime · replay · commentators · fans · home
Second from the end
preliminary · preceding · advancement · progression · step · hurdle · obstacle · milestone
bracket
Support or category
- quarterfinalsPenultimate four matches
- finalsConcluding tests or matches
- playoffsChampionship elimination series
knockout · matchup · elimination · round · qualifiers · draw · seeding · fixture · contenders · finalists
teams
Organized cooperative groups
stadium · spectators · scoreboard · halftime · overtime · replay · commentators · fans · home · away
penultimate
Second from the end
verge · preliminary · preceding · advancement · progression · step · hurdle · obstacle · milestone · juncture
qualify
Meet required criteria
- triumphResounding, celebrated victory
- victoryDefeating an opponent
- breakthroughSudden important advance
accomplishment · success · feat · conquest · clinch · secure · earn · reach · attain · historic
- competition roundsfinals, quarterfinals, first round, second round, preliminaries
- elimination formatssingle elimination, double elimination, sudden death, playoffs, quarterfinals
- FIFA soccerWorld Cup, World Cup qualifiers, Women's World Cup, Copa America, group stage
- tournament roundsfirst round, second round, third round, opening round, qualifying round
- Badmintonshuttlecock, racket, smash, serve, drop shot
- Surfingsurfboards, surfboard, longboards, shortboards, longboard
semifinalsfinals
Concluding tests or matches
preliminary round · grand final · qualifying round · quarterfinals · first round
semifinalsfirst round
Initial stage of competition
opening round · preliminary round · qualifying round · round of 64 · wild card round