If you’ve ever looked through football betting options and come across the term “winner of tie,” you might not be sure what it means.
This blog breaks it down in plain English. It’s written for people who may be completely new to football, betting, or how bookmakers work.
You’ll learn what this market involves, how it’s settled, and why it can differ from other types of football bets. It can be helpful to understand this if you’re thinking about placing a bet on a cup match, or tournament round where two teams face each other over more than one game.
Knowing how different outcomes are handled can help you make more informed choices if you do decide to bet.
How Winner Of Tie Bets Work In Football Matches
The “winner of tie” market is used in football when two teams face each other over a series of matches, typically in cup competitions or knockout stages. Unlike a league match where one game decides the result, a tie involves both teams playing home and away—what’s known as a two-legged fixture.
The outcome is based on the combined score across both legs, often called the aggregate score.
For example, imagine Team X wins 2–0 at home in the first match. In the second match, Team Y wins 3–1 at their ground. The total score is 3–3. Depending on the competition’s rules, extra time may follow. If there’s still no winner, a penalty shoot-out can be used to decide who progresses.
The key point is that it’s not about who wins each individual game. It’s about which team advances to the next round after both legs are completed. That’s what the “winner of tie” bet is focused on.
Are Penalties Included In Winner Of Tie Bets?
Whether penalties count in this market depends on how the bookmaker defines the bet. Some sites may refer to this market as “to qualify” or “to progress.” These typically include extra time and penalties if they are used in that competition.
Let’s say a tie ends level on aggregate after both matches. The teams play extra time, but the score remains unchanged. A penalty shoot-out follows. If you placed a bet on the team that wins the shoot-out under a market that includes all match stages, your bet would settle as a win.
However, not all markets include penalties. Some may be settled after regular time or extra time only. That’s why it’s important to read the market description and terms. If you’re unsure, you can usually find an explanation in the bookmaker’s help section, or ask their support team directly.
Discover The Best Online Casinos
Browse our list of top-recommended casino sites, read reviews from real players & be the first to get access to the latest casino bonuses
Winner Of Tie Bet Example
Imagine a domestic semi-final between Team A and Team B. The first leg is held at Team A’s stadium, and they win 1–0. The second leg is played at Team B’s ground, and they win 2–1. The total score is 2–2.
In this case, depending on the competition rules, extra time may be played. If that also ends in a draw, the tie could go to penalties. The team that progresses after all stages is considered the “winner of tie” for the purposes of this market.
It doesn’t matter that both teams won one match each. What matters is which team advances to the next round. This can be different from the team that had the most goals over 90 minutes in one leg, so it can be useful to check how the bet is settled.
Is A Tie A Win Or A Loss In Football Betting?
This depends entirely on the market you’ve chosen. In standard “match result” betting, you’ll usually see three options: home win, draw, or away win. If you bet on a team to win and the match ends in a draw after 90 minutes, your bet won’t win. But if you bet on the draw, and the match ends level, your bet would pay out.
In markets like “draw no bet,” a draw leads to your stake being refunded. In other bets such as “correct score” or “both teams to score,” the specific final score, or whether each team scored is what matters—not who won overall.
For the “winner of tie” market, the result is settled based on which team advances, even if they did so through penalties. This is separate from regular match result betting, so it’s important not to confuse the two.
What To Know Before Betting On Winner Of Tie
The “winner of tie” market is only used in certain formats, like cup ties or knockout stages. It doesn’t apply to standard league matches. Each competition has its own set of rules. Some will use extra time and penalties to decide a tie, while others might have different approaches.
Bookmakers may not all settle bets the same way, even for the same match. The same term could mean slightly different things across different sites. That’s why checking the terms and conditions before placing your bet can make a difference to how your bet is settled.
You may wish to look at things like, how teams perform over two legs, whether key players are available, or how they’ve done in previous knockout games. These can be useful, but no outcome is certain. Betting on sports involves an element of chance, so results can be unpredictable.
Key Differences Between Tie And Match Winner Bets
“Winner of tie” and “match winner” bets might sound similar, but they refer to very different outcomes in football betting.
A “match winner” bet (often called “90-minute result” or “full-time result”) is settled based on the result at the end of normal time — that’s the first 90 minutes, plus any stoppage time. If you back a team to win in this market and the match ends in a draw after 90 minutes, your bet will lose, even if that team goes on to win in extra time or penalties.
On the other hand, a “winner of tie” bet relates to which team advances to the next round in a knockout format. It can include extra time and penalties, depending on how the bookmaker has defined the market. This market takes into account the full context of the tie — which may include one or two legs — and the final outcome, not just what happens in a single match.
Here’s a side-by-side example to make it clearer:
- You back Team A as the “match winner”. The game ends 1–1 after 90 minutes, and Team A wins on penalties. Your bet loses.
- You back Team A as the “winner of tie”. They win on penalties after a level score over two legs. Your bet wins — if the market includes penalties, as most do.
Bookmakers may use slightly different terms like “to qualify”, “to go through”, or “to reach next round” instead of “winner of tie”, but these markets usually work in the same way. Still, it may be worth checking the specific wording and settlement rules, as not all markets include extra time or penalties by default.
Understanding the difference can help you pick the market that best fits how you think the tie will play out — but remember, outcomes are uncertain, and bets can lose regardless of how close they may seem.
