FIFA World Cup 2026 extra time & penalty shootout rules explained
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The knockout matches will have extra time and penalty shootouts to decide a winner.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 has entered its knockout stages, with teams playing in the Round of 32 fixtures until June 3. After a gruelling group stage featuring 72 matches, 32 teams qualified for the knockouts, with big names like Uruguay and South Korea heading home.
The stakes are higher than ever, with all the games being do-or-die matches. Unlike the group stage, all games will have a winner. In case the scores are level at the end of 90 minutes, the match will go to extra time and potentially penalties.
The match between Germany and Paraguay was the first Round of 32 fixture to go to extra time as the score was tied at 1-1 at the end of regulation time.
Also Read: What happens when FIFA World Cup 2026 match is suspended due to bad weather?
How extra time works in FIFA World Cup 2026
Much like any other flagship tournament organised by FIFA, this year’s expanded 48-team edition of the World Cup goes to extra time if the scores are level at the end of ninety minutes.
Once the referee brings the regulation period to an end, extra time begins after a five-minute break. Both teams play an extra half-hour of football, divided into two 15-minute halves, plus stoppage time. There is a very brief interval between the two halves.
Both teams are allowed to make one extra substitution (a total of six substitutions) if a match goes to extra time.
How penalty shootouts work in FIFA World Cup 2026
If the scores are still level at the end of 120 minutes of football, the winner is decided by penalty shootouts. There are two tosses before the shootout begins. The winner of the first toss chooses the side of the pitch where the shootout will take place. The winner of the second toss decides whether their team will take the first or second kick.
The teams alternately take five penalty kicks. If the scores are still level, the shootout moves to sudden death. In this case, kicks are taken one by one, with the process proceeding only if the scores remain level.
Will FIFA World Cup 2026 matches have extra time?
Yes. If scores are level after 90 minutes, knockout matches go to 30 minutes of extra time (two halves of 15 minutes). If scores are still level after 120 minutes, the match is decided by a penalty shootout.
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Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.