What are the extra-time and penalty shoot-out rules and format at World Cup 2026? What is England's penalty record?
Updated 30/06/2026 at 05:16 GMT+1
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The FIFA World Cup 2026 is into the knockout phase, so extra-time and penalty shoot-out now come into play. But what are the rules at the tournament? And what is England's record in World Cup penalty shoot-outs?
England's Harry Kane takes a penalty against Croatia
Image credit: Getty Images
Some of the most iconic moments in World Cup history have come after the end of 120 minutes, including Roberto Baggio’s missed penalty in the 1994 final between Italy and Brazil, and Argentina beating France in a shoot-out to lift the trophy in 2022.
There could be more extra-time and penalty drama at this summer's World Cup as the action hots up and teams battle to get their hands on the trophy.
Germany v Paraguay was the first match of this year's tournament that was decided after extra time and penalties, with the South Americans ultimately prevailing.
The extra-time drama continued in the round of 32, as a goal from Issa Diop cancelled out Cody Gakpo's opener as the match between Netherlands and Morocco went to an extra 30 minutes and penalties, with the Africans winning to set up a meeting with Canada.
What are the extra-time rules at the World Cup?
If a World Cup knockout game finishes level after 90 minutes, it goes to extra-time.
This is a 30-minute period made up of two 15-minute halves, with a short break in between for teams to take on fluids and change sides.
There will not be any hydration breaks during the extra-time periods.
Each team is given an extra substitution to be used in extra-time.
There is also no ‘golden goal’ or ‘sudden death’ in extra-time, so the entire 30-minute period will be played to its conclusion, no matter how many goals are scored.
The ‘golden goal’ rule was used at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, with one ‘golden goal’ scored in 1998 by France’s Laurent Blanc, and three in 2002. It has not been used since the 2002 World Cup.
What are the penalty shoot-out rules at the World Cup?
If the game remains level after extra-time, then it goes to a penalty shoot-out.
First introduced at the 1978 World Cup, the penalty shoot-out is one of the most dramatic events in football.
The first port of call is deciding who will go first in the shoot-out and at which end it will be held. There are two coin tosses to decide this, with the referee performing the toss and the captains making the calls.
A penalty shoot-out consists of five spot-kicks each, with the two teams alternating takers.
Only players who were on the pitch at the end of the match can take part in the shoot-out and every eligible player, including the goalkeepers, must have taken a penalty before any player can take a second.
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Bellingham takes 'responsibility' for getting England to 'another level of intensity'
Video credit: SNTV
If a winner has not been determined after the initial five penalties, the shoot-out will then continue to a sudden-death stage, with both teams having a penalty each until there is a winner.
There are no rebounds in penalty shoot-outs - meaning players can't follow up and score if their effort is saved - but the ball can bounce off the goalkeeper or the woodwork and go into the net.
The goalkeeper cannot be off his line before the penalty is struck.
Croatia's Dominik Livakovic was penalised for moving too early against England in the group stage, and Harry Kane got the chance to retake a saved penalty, scoring at the second attempt.
What is England’s penalty shoot-out record?
England famously do not have a great penalty shoot-out record at World Cups.
They have been in four World Cup penalty shoot-outs and have won just one, at the 2018 World Cup against Colombia.
They had previously lost in shoot-outs at the 1990, 1998, and 2006 World Cups.
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England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford celebrates saving a penalty against Colombia in 2018
Image credit: Getty Images
Spain have a poorer record than England in World Cup shoot-outs, having lost four of five.
Spain’s only penalty shoot-out win at the World Cup was against Republic of Ireland in 2002, and they have lost on penalties at the past two editions of the tournament to Morocco (2022) and Russia (2018).
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