A penalty shootout decides a knockout match that's still tied after extra time. Each team takes five alternating kicks from the penalty spot. Whoever scores more wins. If it's tied after five each, the shootout continues one kick at a time — sudden death — until somebody misses while the other team scores.

The 30-second version

• 5 kicks each, alternating. Team A, Team B, Team A, Team B, until each has taken five.
• Highest score wins. A shootout often ends before all 10 kicks are taken — once one team can't catch up, the kicks stop.
• Sudden death if 5–5 after the first round.
• Different kicker each kick until everyone has gone.
• Only players on the field at full time can kick.

How the shootout starts

After extra time finishes tied, the players gather at the centre circle. The referee:

1. Picks the goal where the kicks will be taken — usually for fan safety or pitch reasons, not as an advantage.
2. Tosses a coin with the two captains. Winner of the toss picks which goal (already partially settled) and who kicks first.
3. All eligible players (those on the field at the end of extra time) line up in the centre circle.
4. The two teams alternate sending one player at a time to take a kick.

During the shootout

Each kick is treated like a regular penalty:

• Ball on the spot, 12 yards from the goal line.
• Goalkeeper on the line, must keep one foot on or behind it until the kick is struck.
• Other players outside the box, behind the spot.
• Kicker must hit the ball forward. They can't pass it sideways or stop their run-up to fake.

A goal counts. A miss or a save means no goal. The score updates after each kick.

When it ends early

A shootout doesn't always go all five kicks per side. After kick 4 (Team A 3–1 ahead), if Team B can't possibly reach Team A's score with one kick remaining, the referee ends it. That's why you see shootouts end at 4–2 or 3–1.

The math: if Team A leads by more goals than Team B has kicks left, it's over.

A simple example

Team A's coach calls Striker, Defender, Midfielder, Substitute, Captain — in that order — to take the kicks.

• 1–0 (A scores)
• 1–1 (B scores)
• 2–1
• 2–1 (B's kicker hits the post)
• 3–1
• 3–2
• 4–2 — kick 4 of Team A. Team B has only one kick left. They could at best tie 4–3. Shootout over. Team A wins.

Sudden death

If both teams reach 5–5 after the initial round, sudden death begins:

• One kick each, alternating.
• If Team A scores and Team B misses, Team A wins.
• If both score or both miss, it continues to the next round.

Players take kicks in a fresh order set by the coach. The same player cannot take a second sudden-death kick until every eligible teammate has taken one — including the goalkeeper if the round goes that long.

Common confusion

• "The keeper jumped before the kick." — Lateral movement along the line is fine. Coming off the line early is technically a foul, but referees rarely call retakes for tiny early movements unless the keeper saves.
• "They're kicking the ball weirdly." — A "Panenka" (chipped kick down the middle) is legal. Step-stop run-ups (shaping to shoot, then stopping) are illegal — the kicker must complete one continuous motion.
• "He should take another kick." — Each player only kicks once per round. The coach has to use ten different players if it goes to sudden death past everyone's first kick.

What fans usually get wrong

• Players who were on the field at the end of extra time are the only ones who can take kicks. Substitutes used during the match can kick if they were still on the field.
• Goalkeepers can take kicks. They sometimes do in sudden death.
• The two teams must be even in numbers at the end of extra time. If one team has been red-carded down to 10, the other team has to "reduce" to 10 by leaving one player off the kicker rotation.

Official rule basis

Penalty shootouts are governed by the Kicks From the Penalty Mark procedure in the IFAB Laws of the Game (a separate procedure document, not part of Law 14 on regular penalties). FIFA's tournament regulations specify it for the World Cup from the Round of 32 onward.