Penalty Shootout Rules Explained — Order, Sudden Death and Who Can Take One
2026-07-12
Few moments in football match the drama of a shootout. Here's exactly how the rules work.
Before a ball is kicked
The referee tosses a coin twice: once to choose which end hosts the kicks (with safety and fairness in mind), and once to decide who kicks first. Only players on the pitch at the final whistle may take part — a substituted star can't come back for a penalty.
The main phase: best of five
Teams alternate kicks, five each. The shootout ends the moment one side can no longer be caught — if you lead 3–0 after three kicks each, it's over. Every kick must be taken by a different player until all eligible players have gone once.
Sudden death
Level after five each? The shootout continues one round at a time — score and your opponent misses, you win. In theory it can go on until every player, including the goalkeepers, has taken one; then the order starts again.
The goalkeeper's rules
- Must keep at least one foot on or level with the goal line until the ball is kicked
- Encroachment is punished with a retake only if the kick was missed
- An injured keeper can be replaced during the shootout — but only if the team hasn't used all its substitutions
Small rules that decide big nights
- The kicker can't touch the ball twice — no scoring your own rebound off the post
- Feinting during the run-up is allowed, but stopping completely at the end of the run-up to fool the keeper is a booking and the kick is lost
- If both teams are reduced in numbers (a red card during extra time), the sides are equalised — the bigger squad must nominate players to sit out
Shootouts settle the biggest knockout nights — follow them live on the scores page, see who's heading for the decisive rounds in competitions, and check kickoff times in fixtures.
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