The knockout rounds of the World Cup 2026 are underway as groups face off within the spherical of 32, and vs has grow to be the primary sport to go to extra-time and penalties, as the 2 sides drew 1-1 after 120 minutes in Boston.
Penalty shoot-outs had been first launched on the 1978 World Cup they usually have since grow to be a defining characteristic of knockout soccer, with the 2022 ultimate settled with spot-kicks and shoot-outs additionally required in 1994 and 2006.
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These days, the format is considered one of the crucial thrilling – and but probably merciless – methods to resolve a match, and groups can hardly ever win a World Cup with out navigating the pressures of extra-time or penalties (and infrequently each).
In 2026 there’ll probably be loads of late drama within the knockout rounds as groups take part within the prolonged event, so learn on to learn the way penalty shoot-outs work this 12 months.
is among the many gamers to overlook a penalty in regular time throughout this 12 months’s event (Reuters)What are the penalty shoot-out guidelines on the World Cup?
If the sport stays stage after the half-hour of extra-time, then it goes to a penalty shoot-out.
Earlier than the primary penalty is taken, the referee conducts two coin tosses. The primary decides which workforce takes the primary spot-kick, whereas the second coin toss is finished to resolve which finish of the pitch the penalties are taken from. Fifa has submitted a proposal to alter the coin toss to at least one single toss – with the winner deciding one issue and the loser deciding the opposite – although no modifications shall be made through the World Cup.
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The shoot-out itself consists of 5 penalties for every workforce, with groups alternating takers. Solely gamers who had been on the pitch on the full-time whistle (on the finish of extra-time) are permitted to take penalties.
If each side rating the identical variety of their first 5 penalties, the shoot-out goes to ‘sudden demise’. On this situation, every workforce alternates taking a penalty, with the primary workforce to overlook then dropping the shoot-out.
Gamers can not profit from rebounds in penalty shoot-outs, and goalkeepers should be on their strains when trying to make a save.