World Cup 2026: What are the extra time and penalty shootout rules?
Following dramatic penalty shootouts in Morocco vs Netherlands and Paraguay vs Germany matches, we explain the rules for extra time and penalty shootouts in the World Cup.
Monday's Round of 32 World Cup matches saw two games end in dramatic penalty shootouts after 1-1 draws. In Germany vs Paraguay, Germany had a goal disallowed after a video review, and Paraguay won the shootout 4-3, handing Germany its first-ever World Cup penalty shootout loss. In the other match, Morocco equalized in the final minutes and then defeated the Netherlands 3-2 on penalties.
When the standard 90 minutes of play do not produce a winner in knockout stages, extra time is used. This additional period lasts 30 minutes, split into two 15-minute halves, with teams switching sides at halftime. If the score remains tied after extra time, a penalty shootout determines the winner.
A penalty shootout begins with a coin toss by the referee to decide which goal will be used, and a second toss usually selects which team takes the first penalty. Each team selects five players to take the initial five penalties, alternating attempts: Team A shoots, then Team B, and so on. Only players who were on the pitch at the end of extra time are eligible to take penalties, including the goalkeeper. If the score is still tied after five penalties each, sudden death begins. Each team takes one penalty per round, and the shootout ends as soon as one team scores while the other misses. The goalkeeper must stay on the goal line, facing the striker, until the ball is kicked; they may move laterally but not step forward.
Famous penalty shootouts in World Cup history include the 1994 final (Brazil vs Italy), the 1990 semifinals (West Germany vs England and Argentina vs Italy), the 2006 final (Italy vs France), the 2014 round of 16 (Brazil vs Chile), and the 2018 matches where Croatia beat Denmark and Russia both on penalties.
