How Extra Time and Penalty Rules Operate in World Cup 2026 Knockouts

When 90 Minutes Isn’t Enough

The knockout stages of the World Cup create football’s highest-pressure moments. When matches are tied after regulation time, the tournament’s tiebreaking procedures come into play — extra time and, if necessary, penalty shootouts. Understanding these rules is essential for any fan following the 2026 tournament.

This guide covers the complete tiebreaking process, from the final whistle of regular time to the last penalty kick.

Extra Time: The 30-Minute Battle

Format:

If a knockout match is tied after 90 minutes of regulation time, the match proceeds to extra time:

Duration: Two 15-minute periods (30 minutes total), played in their entirety
No golden goal: Unlike some past tournaments, the full 30 minutes are always played — even if a team scores in the 91st minute, the match continues to the end of extra time
Change of ends: Teams switch ends after the first 15-minute period, with a 1-minute break between periods
No additional kickoff: After the brief interval, the second 15-minute period begins with a kickoff

Half-time in extra time:

There is a 5-minute break between the end of regulation time and the start of extra time. Players remain on the field or near the touchline — they do not return to the dressing room. Between the two 15-minute periods, there is a 1-minute changeover.

Substitutions during extra time:

One of the most significant rule changes for the 2026 World Cup concerns substitutions:

Regular subs: Five substitutions are allowed during the 90-minute regulation period
Extra sub: A sixth substitution is allowed only if the match goes to extra time
Substitution opportunities: Teams have four opportunities to make substitutions during the match (three during regulation, one during extra time), plus half-time intervals
Concussion substitutions: Additional substitutions (not counting toward the six) are permitted for suspected concussions

Tactical impact of extra time substitutions:

The sixth sub is usually used around the 105th-110th minute
Fresh legs against tired defenders create the most dangerous attacking opportunities
Penalty specialists (takers and goalkeepers) are often brought on specifically for the shootout
Teams that haven’t used all five regulation subs before extra time have a significant tactical advantage — they can manage fatigue better and delay the sixth sub for maximum impact

Goal-line technology and VAR during extra time:

Both GLT and VAR remain fully active during extra time. The same protocols apply. VAR can review incidents from extra time just as during regulation. There is no relaxation of technology standards in the extended period.

When Extra Time Ends Tied: The Penalty Shootout

If the score remains level after 120 minutes, the match is decided by a penalty shootout — officially called “kicks from the penalty mark.”

Pre-shootout procedure:

Coin toss: The referee conducts a coin toss. The winning captain chooses which end of the stadium the shootout will take place at, OR whether their team shoots first or second
First kick: Typically the team that wins the toss chooses to shoot first (statistically advantageous)
Players eligible: Only players who are on the pitch at the end of extra time can participate (including the goalkeeper)
Substitutes: Substitutes who are not on the pitch cannot take penalties. However, if a goalkeeper is injured during the shootout, a substitute goalkeeper can replace them if the team has not used all their substitutions

Shootout format:

The ABAB format (traditional alternating):

Round	Team A	Team B
1	A1	B1
2	A2	B2
3	A3	B3
4	A4	B4
5	A5	B5

Five players from each team take alternating penalties
If the score is tied after five rounds, the shootout proceeds to sudden death
In sudden death, the first team to miss while the opponent scores wins

Why ABAB and not ABBA? FIFA trialed the ABBA format (like tennis tiebreaks) in 2017-2018 but abandoned it. Research showed ABBA did not eliminate the “second-mover disadvantage” as hoped. The traditional ABAB format remains.

The 2026 rule clarification on takers:

Players taking penalties do not need to be formally nominated to the referee before the shootout begins. The referee simply needs to identify each taker as they approach the spot. However, the team must provide a list of eligible players to the match officials.

During the shootout:

Only the taker and the goalkeepers are allowed on the pitch
All other players must wait in the center circle
The taker must not delay — the referee can book players for excessive gamesmanship
Goalkeeper movement: The goalkeeper must have at least one foot on the goal line when the kick is taken. Moving off the line early can result in the penalty being retaken if the kick is missed
Feinting: The taker can feint (fake) during the run-up but cannot stop completely or fake after completing the run-up. Illegal feinting results in the penalty being retaken — or awarded as missed

Sudden death rules:

The same players who took the first five penalties can take again
The order does not need to be the same — any eligible player can take any round
Goalkeepers often take penalties in sudden death (and some have scored crucial kicks)
The shootout continues until one team leads after an equal number of kicks

Notable Long Shootouts in World Cup History

1994 Final — Brazil vs Italy: The first World Cup final decided by penalties. Italy’s Franco Baresi and Daniele Massaro missed; Brazil’s Roberto Baggio scored the winner. 3-2 after 5 rounds.

2006 Final — Italy vs France: Nine of ten penalties converted — the highest conversion rate in a World Cup final. Fabio Grosso scored the winner. David Trezeguet hit the crossbar.

2018 Round of 16 — Croatia vs Denmark: Only 5 of 10 penalties scored — the worst conversion rate in any World Cup shootout. Croatia advanced 3-2. Both goalkeepers (Subasic, Schmeichel) starred.

2018 Round of 16 — Colombia vs England: England ended their shootout curse, winning 4-3. Mateus Uribe’s penalty hit the crossbar; Carlos Bacca’s was saved by Jordan Pickford.

2022 Quarterfinal — Croatia vs Brazil: Croatia eliminated Brazil 4-2 in penalties. Dominik Livaković saved Rodrygo’s opening penalty. Marquinhos hit the post with Brazil’s fourth. Croatia’s penalty prowess continued.

2022 Final — Argentina vs France: The greatest World Cup final in history ended 3-3 after extra time. Argentina won 4-2 on penalties. Emiliano Martínez saved Kingsley Coman’s penalty; Aurelien Tchouameni missed wide. Argentina’s fourth World Cup title.

Statistics on Shootout Outcomes

Overall trends (1982-2022):

Statistic	Value
Total shootouts	36
Win rate, team shooting first	60%
Rounds needed (avg)	6.3 (5 regular + 1.3 sudden death)
Conversion rate, Round 1-3	78%
Conversion rate, Round 4-5	69%
Conversion rate, sudden death	72%
Percentage going to sudden death	36%
Goalkeeper save rate	18%
Miss/hit post rate	11%

Key insights:

The team that shoots first has a clear statistical advantage (60% win rate)
Later rounds (4-5) have lower conversion rates — pressure builds
36% of shootouts go to sudden death, making it far from rare
Goalkeeper saves are relatively uncommon (18%), but a single save dramatically shifts win probability

Psychological factors:

Players who convert their club penalties at 85%+ convert at 82% in World Cup shootouts
Players with no penalty experience convert at 63%
Fatigue from 120 minutes reduces conversion by approximately 5%
Home crowds boost conversion rates by 3-4% for the home team

The Coin Toss: More Important Than You Think

The pre-shootout coin toss has significant strategic importance:

Winning the toss gives two choices:

Shoot first or second (most teams choose first due to the 60% win rate)
Choose the goal end (factors like crowd proximity, pitch condition, wind/sun)

Choosing the goal end matters:

If one end has a vocal crowd behind it, the goalkeeper at that end has greater pressure
Some stadiums have different goal conditions (wind patterns, shadow from stands)
The referee will typically choose goals that offer good sightlines for officials

Rules Summary Table

Stage	Duration	Substitutions	Key Rules
Regulation	90 min (2x45)	5 subs	Standard play
Extra time	30 min (2x15)	+1 sub (6 total)	Full 30 min played, no golden goal
Penalties	5 rounds + sudden death	Only players on pitch	ABAB format, no re-use of takers

Recent rule changes for 2026:

Sixth sub confirmed — available only in extra time
Feinting clarification — stopping completely in the run-up is now explicitly a yellow card offense
Goalkeeper line technology — optional use of technology to confirm goalkeepers stay on the line during shootouts
No repeat takers in first 5 rounds — each taker can only kick once in the initial five rounds (players who kicked can kick again in sudden death)

The knockout stages of World Cup 2026 promise drama, tension, and unforgettable moments. Whether resolved in extra time or from the penalty spot, understanding these rules will help you appreciate the tactical and psychological battle unfolding before your eyes.