<strong>A penalty shootout is a separate procedure used after a match has ended when competition rules require a winner.</strong> Under IFAB Law 10, the teams normally take five kicks each, alternating between sides. If the scores remain level after five kicks, the shootout continues until one team has scored more goals than the other from the same number of kicks. The competition regulations determine whether a shootout is required in the first place.
Table of Contents- When are penalty shootouts used?
- The coin toss before the kicks
- Who is eligible to take a kick?
- How the first five kicks work
- What happens after five kicks?
- Goalkeepers during the shootout
- A shootout is not part of the match
- The 2026/27 double-touch clarification
- How teams choose kickers
- Conclusion
When are penalty shootouts used?
A league match can normally finish as a draw, but a knockout competition may require one team to advance. The competition rules can provide extra time and then penalties, or another permitted procedure.
IFAB Law 10 says that when competition rules require a winning team after a drawn match or home-and-away tie, the permitted procedures include extra time and penalties, subject to the competition rules.
The coin toss before the kicks
The referee normally conducts two tosses. The first determines the goal at which the kicks will be taken, although safety or playing-surface issues can affect that decision. The second toss determines which team chooses whether to kick first or second.
The purpose is to establish the basic conditions of the shootout before the first kick.
Who is eligible to take a kick?
With the exception of a substitute for a goalkeeper who is unable to continue under the relevant provisions, eligible kickers are players who were on the field or temporarily off it at the end of the match. A player sent off during the match cannot participate in the shootout.
Teams select the order of their eligible kickers, and the referee is not informed of the order in advance.
How the first five kicks work
Teams take kicks alternately. Each kick in the first cycle must be taken by a different player, and all eligible players must take a kick before anyone can take a second kick.
The shootout can end before five kicks per side if one team has already scored more goals than the other could possibly reach.
What happens after five kicks?
If the teams are level after five kicks each, the shootout continues in further rounds. Each side takes one kick per round, and the winner is the team that scores more from the same number of kicks.
The order of kickers can be changed in later rounds, subject to the requirement that eligible players complete the first cycle before a second kick is taken.
Goalkeepers during the shootout
The goalkeeper has a special role because the player must defend the kicks and can also take one. If a goalkeeper becomes unable to continue, the Law provides specific replacement procedures depending on the circumstances and competition rules.
Goalkeeper offences can also be relevant to a retaken kick or disciplinary decision, so match officials monitor the goalkeeper’s position carefully.
A shootout is not part of the match
IFAB Law 10 treats penalties as a procedure after the match has ended. This explains several details that confuse viewers. Warnings and cautions from the match are not carried forward into the shootout, and a player sent off during the match cannot take a kick.
This distinction also matters for statistics and official reporting, which can follow competition-specific conventions.
The 2026/27 double-touch clarification
The 2026/27 Laws incorporate a clarification concerning an accidental double touch by the penalty taker. If the kicker accidentally kicks the ball with both feet simultaneously or the ball touches the non-kicking foot or leg immediately after the kick, the outcome depends on whether the ball enters the goal; the kick is retaken if it enters and recorded as missed if it does not.
This is an example of why current Laws should be checked rather than relying on old shootout explanations.
How teams choose kickers
The Laws allow each team to select the order from its eligible players. The tactical choice is therefore made by the team, not assigned by the referee.
Coaches may consider technical ability, confidence, fatigue, position and goalkeeper preferences, but the reasons for a particular order are team decisions rather than a fixed rule in the Laws.
Conclusion
A penalty shootout follows a structured process: the referee establishes the goal and first-kicking choice, teams select eligible kickers, the first five kicks are taken alternately and further rounds continue if necessary. Competition regulations determine when penalties are used, while the current IFAB Laws govern the procedure itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many penalties does each team take first?
Each team normally takes five kicks, unless the shootout ends earlier because the other team cannot catch up.
Who decides the order of penalty takers?
Each team selects the order from its eligible players. The referee is not informed of the order.
What happens if the shootout is tied after five kicks?
Kicks continue in rounds until one team has scored more goals than the other from the same number of kicks.
Can a player who was sent off take a shootout kick?
No. A player sent off during the match is not eligible to take part in the shootout.