​Twenty matches finished in draws during the group stage of the 2026 World Cup, but such results won’t be possible in the knockout rounds, where matches must produce a winner. FIFA’s preferred method to decide a winner if regulation time ends with a draw is to play extra time before a potential penalty shootout. Extra time consists of two 15-minute halves, totaling 30 minutes plus stoppage time, and it is not sudden death. If the game is still tied after extra time, a penalty shootout determines the winner.
During the shootout, players from each team take alternating penalties from the 12-yard mark. Each side starts with five kicks, though the sequence can end early if one team gains an insurmountable lead. If still tied after the initial five kicks, the contest moves to a sudden-death phase, where teams continue to take one kick each until a winner is found. Only players on the field at the end of extra time, including the goalkeeper, are eligible to take part, and all eligible players must take a penalty before anyone can repeat a kick. A coin toss decides which team gets the first penalty. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY with SEO-focused details on the tournament’s 2026 extra-time and penalty rules.