Italy Tier 3

Play-off

A total of 28 teams participate in the play-offs: 21 of them (7 for each group) play in the group play-offs, while the remaining 7 are admitted directly to the national play-offs.

First play-off round of the group

The 18 teams admitted (from 5th to 10th position in each group) face each other in a single match and at the home of the best classified, as follows:

• The 5th faces the 10th of the same group;

• The 6th faces the 9th of the same group;

• The 7th faces the 8th of the same group.

In the event of a tie at the end of regular time , the best classified between the two is admitted to the next phase.

Second round play-off of the group

The 3 winning teams of the first round face each other together with the fourth classified of each group in a single match, as follows:

• The 4th faces, at home, the worst classified;

• The other two teams face off at the home of the best placed of the two.

In the event of a tie at the end of regular time, the best classified between the two will be admitted to the national stage.

First round national playoffs

The 6 teams that have passed the second round of the group play-offs take part in the first round of the national play-offs, the 3 teams ranked third in each group. In this round there are 5 matches in total, all in the round trip. The third classified, the winner of the Italian Serie C Cup and the "best classified" team (determined by applying the following criteria, in order: best placement in the final classification of their group; higher number of points in the final classification of their group; higher number of average goals per game scored in their own group; draw if there is still a tie) among the 6 teams admitted to the play-offs of the group are considered "seeded". The pairings with the other 5 teams are decided by drawing lots. Seeded teams have the advantage of playing at home. In the event of a tie at the end of regular time, the seeded team is admitted to the next phase.

Second round of national play-offs

In the second round of the national play-offs, the 3 second-placed teams in each group are added to the 5 winning teams of the previous round. In this round, a total of 4 rounds are played with a round trip. The 3 runners-up and the "best placed" team (determined by applying the same criteria used in the first round) are considered "seeded". The pairings with the other 4 teams are defined by drawing lots. Seeded teams play at home. In the event of a tie at the end of regular time, the seeded team is admitted to the "Final Four".

Final four

The 4 teams that have passed the second round of the national play-offs face each other in a mini-tournament, which includes the semifinals and the final, with a home and away match of the "best classified" team (determined by applying the same criteria used in the first round and in the second round) between the two facing each other. In the event of a tie at the end of the regular time, there will be two 15 ' extra times and, in the event of a further tie, penalty shots . The pairings of the semifinals are decided by free draw. The team that wins at the end of the final four is promoted to Serie B.

• Teams placed 18th-17th qualify for Playout (if more than 8 points separate 17th and 18th)

• Teams placed 17th and 18th qualify for Playout (if more than 8 points separate 16th and 19th)

• Teams placed 16th-19th qualify for Playout (if fewer than 9 points separate 16th and 19th)

• Bottom 3 teams are relegated to Serie D (if more than 8 points separate 17th and 18th)

• Bottom 2 teams are relegated to Serie D (if more than 8 points separate 16th and 19th)

• Bottom team is relegated to Serie D (if fewer than 9 points separate 16th and 19th)

The dispute of the play-outs between the teams ranked from the fifth last to the penultimate place takes place with the following combinations:

• the fifth from last classified against the penultimate, with the first leg on the field of the penultimate;

• the fourth from last against the third from last, with the first leg on the third from last field.

In the event of a tie after the second leg, the goal difference is taken into account. In the event of a further tie, the team best positioned in the group is considered the winner. There are no overtime, no penalty shots, or the use of the away goals rule . The team that loses the match is relegated to Serie D.