Penalty shootout rules explained: how a football shootout works

A penalty shootout decides a match when the scoreline is still level after full time and extra time in a knockout competition. Each team takes turns having a single player attempt a penalty kick, and after five rounds the team with more scored kicks wins — or the shootout continues into sudden death until one team leads after an equal number of kicks.

When a shootout happens

Shootouts only apply in knockout football — cup finals, World Cup and Euros knockout rounds, Champions League ties decided on the night, domestic cup rounds — where a winner must be found and no replay is scheduled. League matches never go to penalties; a draw simply stands and both teams take a point. In most modern formats the shootout follows two-legged or single 90-minute ties that remain level, and it comes only after 30 minutes of extra time has also failed to separate the sides. Some competitions, including several domestic cups, skip extra time altogether and move straight from 90 minutes to penalties.

The basic procedure

Before the shootout starts, the referee tosses a coin to decide which goal will be used for all the kicks (usually the one preferred for safety or crowd reasons) and a second toss decides which team kicks first. Only players who were on the pitch at the final whistle of extra time — including any substitutes brought on — are eligible to take part; anyone already substituted off cannot return.

The two teams alternate kicks, one at a time, each taken by a different player until every eligible player has kicked once, unless the shootout is already decided. After both teams have taken five kicks, the side with more successful conversions wins. If the two are still level, the shootout moves into sudden death: one kick each per round, and as soon as one team scores and the other misses in the same round, the shootout ends immediately.

What counts as a valid kick

Kicks are taken from the penalty spot, 11 metres from goal, with every other player from both teams inside the centre circle until it's their turn. The goalkeeper facing the kick must have at least part of one foot on or in line with the goal line at the moment the ball is struck — they can move sideways along the line, dive, and shift their weight, but they cannot come off their line early or stand in front of it. If a goalkeeper clearly encroaches and saves a kick that would otherwise have gone in, the referee can order a retake; VAR is also used at major tournaments to check goalkeeper positioning and whether the ball crossed the line.

A shootout kick that hits the post or bar and stays out is simply a miss, and the kicker cannot follow up on a rebound — the kick is over the moment the ball stops moving, goes out of play, or is saved or handled by the goalkeeper.

What happens if a team can't field enough players

If a team finishes extra time with fewer players than its opponent — because of red cards or injuries with no substitutes left — the shootout still uses the same number of kickers from each side, matching the smaller squad. So if one team has only nine eligible players left, the other team must also reduce to nine kick-takers, even though it technically has more available. This "equalising" rule exists purely so neither side gains an unfair numerical advantage in the shootout itself.

Why sudden death eventually ends things

Once every eligible outfield player and both goalkeepers on a side have taken a kick in a lengthy shootout, the rotation simply starts again from the first kicker, in the same order or a new order chosen by the team. There is no formal limit to how long a shootout can run — some famous shootouts have stretched past 20 rounds — it only stops when the scores are unequal after both teams have had the same number of kicks in a round.

The role of the goalkeeper and VAR

Shootouts have become a major test of goalkeeping preparation, with many teams researching opposing kickers' habits in advance. At the top level, VAR reviews can check for goal-line technology confirmation and encroachment, but the fundamental drama — one kicker, one goalkeeper, no second chances — hasn't changed since the procedure was introduced in the 1970s. The kicks themselves follow the same penalty kick laws used during normal play, just without a rebound for the taker.

Frequently asked questions

Can a goalkeeper move off the line before the kick is taken?

No. The goalkeeper must have part of one foot on or in line with the goal line when the ball is struck, though they are free to move side to side or dive in any direction once the kick is taken.

Who is allowed to take part in a shootout?

Only players who were on the pitch, including substitutes already introduced, at the end of extra time are eligible. A player already substituted off cannot be brought back on for the shootout.

What happens if the teams are still level after five kicks each?

The shootout moves into sudden death, with one kick per team per round. It ends as soon as one team scores and the other misses within the same round.

Does a shootout goal count towards a player's official goal tally?

No. Goals scored in a penalty shootout are not added to match scorelines or player goal-scoring statistics; they only determine which team advances or wins the trophy.