What is a penalty shootout at the World Cup? The rules explained
A guide to the mechanics of a penalty shootout, from the coin toss to sudden death rules.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0 / Author: Danilo Borges/ copa2014.gov.br Licença Creative Commons Atribuição 3.0 Brasil
A penalty shootout is the ultimate test of nerves in soccer, employed to determine a winner when a knockout match remains level after 90 minutes of regulation and 30 minutes of extra time. It is a high-stakes contest that forces teams to settle matches from 12 yards out.
The process begins with two coin tosses: one to determine the end of the pitch and another to decide which team shoots first. Each side takes five penalties alternately. Only players on the pitch at the end of extra time are eligible to participate. If the score is level after five rounds, the shootout enters a 'sudden death' phase, where the winner is decided by the first missed attempt in a round where the opponent scores.
Every eligible player, including the goalkeeper, must take a penalty before any player can take a second one. Teams are responsible for ordering their takers. If one team finishes with fewer players due to a red card, the opposing team must exclude a matching number of players to ensure an equal sequence.
Goalkeepers must keep at least one foot on or behind the goal line until the ball is struck. They are prohibited from unfairly distracting the taker through excessive delay or touching the goal frame. Takers are allowed to vary their run-up speed but cannot feint once they have begun their final approach; doing so results in a yellow card and a recorded miss.