What Is a Penalty Shootout in Football?

A penalty shootout is a method used to determine a winner in knockout football matches when the score remains tied after 90 minutes of regular play and 30 minutes of extra time. In a penalty shootout, each team takes turns shooting from the penalty mark (12 yards or 11 metres from goal), with only the opposing goalkeeper defending. The team that scores the most penalties after each side has taken five kicks wins the match. If the score is still level after five penalties each, the shootout continues in sudden death, where the first team to gain an advantage wins.

Penalty shootouts exist because knockout competitions require a decisive outcome. Unlike league matches where a draw is acceptable, cup competitions and tournament knockouts cannot proceed with tied matches. Before penalty shootouts were introduced in the 1970s, teams used replays or extended extra time to break deadlocks. As fixture lists became increasingly crowded, a quicker, more decisive method was needed.

When Are Penalty Shootouts Used?

Penalty shootouts are exclusively used in knockout stages of competitions:

• FIFA World Cup — All knockout rounds (Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, final)
• UEFA European Championship — All knockout matches
• Domestic cup competitions — FA Cup, League Cup, Copa del Rey, etc.
• Club competitions — Champions League, Europa League (knockout stages)
• International friendlies — Occasionally, for specific tournaments

Crucially, penalty shootouts never occur during league play. In the regular season, a draw is a valid result. Shootouts are reserved for competitions where one team must advance.

How Did Penalty Shootouts Begin?

The Problem They Solved

Before penalty shootouts, football had a fixture congestion crisis. In the 1960s and early 1970s, European competitions were expanding rapidly. Clubs played domestic league matches, cup competitions, and European tournaments simultaneously. When knockout matches ended in draws, teams had to replay the entire match—another 90 minutes of play, travel, and recovery time.

This created several problems:

• Fixture pile-ups: Teams played matches every 2-3 days
• Player fatigue and injuries: Extra matches increased injury risk and fatigue
• Unpredictable scheduling: Replays could be scheduled days or weeks later
• Unfair advantage: Teams with larger squads could rotate; smaller clubs couldn't

By the early 1970s, football needed a solution that was quick, fair, and decisive.

The First Penalty Shootout

The 1976 UEFA European Championship Final between Czechoslovakia and West Germany is widely credited as the first official penalty shootout in a major football competition. The match ended 2-2 after extra time, and for the first time, penalties decided the outcome.

Czechoslovakia won 5-3. The shootout is remembered for Antonín Panenka's iconic chip—a delicate, chipped penalty down the middle while the West German goalkeeper dived. The "Panenka penalty" became football folklore and remains one of the most audacious penalty techniques ever executed. It symbolized the new era of penalty shootouts and the psychological battle between kicker and goalkeeper.

However, there's evidence that Copa América 1970 (Colombia) may have used a penalty shootout unofficially before this. Regardless, the 1976 Euro final legitimized the format for world football.

Evolution and Global Adoption

Following the success of the 1976 Euro final:

• 1978 FIFA World Cup — Argentina (first World Cup shootout)
• 1980s expansion — Gradually adopted across all major competitions
• 1990s standardization — IFAB (International Football Association Board) formalized rules
• 2000s onwards — Universal use in all knockout competitions

The format proved so successful that it became the standard method worldwide. No serious alternative emerged until FIFA began testing the ABBA format in the 2010s.

What Are the Official Rules of a Penalty Shootout?

Basic Structure and Format

A penalty shootout follows a strict, standardized procedure:

1. Coin Toss: Before the shootout begins, the two team captains meet with the referee. A coin toss determines which team takes the first penalty. This is significant because the first team has a psychological advantage (discussed later).

2. Team Selection: Each team nominates five players to take penalties. These players do not have to be the same players on the pitch during extra time. A team can select any outfield player or even the goalkeeper, though goalkeepers rarely take penalties.

3. Alternating Order (ABAB): Penalties are taken in alternating order:

   • 1st penalty: Team A
   • 2nd penalty: Team B
   • 3rd penalty: Team A
   • 4th penalty: Team B
   • 5th penalty: Team A

4. One Kick Per Player: Each selected player takes exactly one penalty. If a player is injured and cannot continue, their team loses that penalty (they cannot substitute another player).

5. Goalkeeper's Role: Only the opposing team's goalkeeper defends. The goalkeeper can move along the goal line but cannot advance beyond it until the ball is kicked.

The Penalty Kick Itself

Each penalty kick must follow these rules:

• Position: The ball is placed on the penalty mark, 12 yards (11 metres) from the goal line, directly in the centre of the goal.
• Direction: The kick must be forward. A backward or sideways kick is not allowed.
• Timing: The kicker runs up and shoots while the goalkeeper waits on the goal line.
• Goalkeeper Restrictions: The goalkeeper cannot move off the goal line until the ball is kicked. If the goalkeeper moves early and the kick is saved, the penalty is retaken. If the kick is scored, the goal stands.
• Outcome: A goal is scored if the ball enters the net. Any other outcome (miss, save, post) is recorded as a miss.

Winning Conditions and Sudden Death

After each team has taken five penalties:

• If one team has more goals: That team wins the shootout immediately, even if the other team has penalties remaining. This is called the "best of five" rule. For example, if Team A scores 4 goals in their first 5 penalties and Team B has only scored 2, Team A wins 4-2, even though Team B still has one penalty left.

• If the scores are level after five each: The shootout enters sudden death. Teams alternate taking one penalty each. The first team to score when their opponent fails to match it wins. For example:

  • Round 1 of sudden death: Team A scores, Team B scores (still tied)
  • Round 2 of sudden death: Team A scores, Team B misses (Team A wins)

Sudden death can last many rounds. The longest penalty shootout in a major competition was the 2003 UEFA Cup Final between AC Milan and Juventus, which went to 16 rounds of penalties (Team A takes 16, Team B takes 16) before Milan won 3-2 in sudden death.

Edge Cases and Referee Decisions

Penalty shootouts have unusual scenarios that referees must manage:

ABAB vs. ABBA: What's the Difference?

The Traditional ABAB Format

The ABAB format is the standard used in all major competitions worldwide. It works like this:

• Team A takes penalty 1
• Team B takes penalty 2
• Team A takes penalty 3
• Team B takes penalty 4
• Team A takes penalty 5
• (And so on in sudden death)

The team that takes the first penalty is determined by a coin toss before the shootout.

The First-Team Advantage: Historical data shows that the team taking the first penalty wins approximately 60% of ABAB shootouts. This is not luck—it's psychology. The first team sets the tone. If they score, they create momentum and pressure the second team to match them. If they miss, the second team gains confidence. Over time, the first team's advantage compounds.

The ABBA Alternative Format

In the mid-2010s, FIFA began testing an alternative format called ABBA (or "tennis tiebreak" format):

• Team A takes penalty 1
• Team A takes penalty 2
• Team B takes penalty 3
• Team B takes penalty 4
• Team A takes penalty 5
• (And so on in sudden death)

In ABBA, teams take two consecutive penalties before the other team shoots, similar to a tennis tiebreak.

Why ABBA Was Tested: Research showed that the ABAB format gave an unfair advantage to the first team. ABBA was designed to reduce this advantage to approximately 50%, making shootouts fairer.

Where ABBA Was Used:

• UEFA youth tournaments (U-17, U-19, U-21)
• Carabao Cup (English League Cup) — 2019-20 season
• Various smaller competitions

However, ABBA was not adopted at senior World Cup or Euro level. FIFA ultimately decided that the first-team advantage was acceptable and that tradition and familiarity mattered more than marginal fairness gains.

Why ABAB Remains Dominant

Despite ABBA's theoretical fairness advantage, ABAB persists because:

1. Tradition: ABAB has been used since 1976. Players, coaches, and fans are accustomed to it.
2. Psychological Momentum: The first team's advantage is part of football's drama. Overcoming a deficit creates compelling narratives.
3. Consistency: Changing formats would confuse casual viewers and complicate rule-learning.
4. Minimal Advantage: While 60% is better than 50%, it's not overwhelming. Skill and psychology still dominate.

The Psychology and Strategy Behind Penalty Shootouts

Mental Pressure and Performance

Penalty shootouts are as much about psychology as skill. Research shows that penalty-taking performance drops significantly under shootout pressure:

• Regular play conversion rate: ~85% (a foul in the box, clear opportunity)
• Shootout conversion rate: ~75-80% (same distance, but extreme pressure)

The 5-10% drop is entirely psychological. The same players, same distance, same goalkeeper—but the stakes are higher. A shootout miss can eliminate your team from a tournament.

Psychological factors affecting performance:

• Pressure and anxiety: The "long walk" to the penalty spot amplifies self-doubt
• Momentum shifts: Each goal or miss swings confidence between teams
• Fatigue: Players have already played 120 minutes; mental fatigue compounds pressure
• Crowd noise: Home teams often have louder crowds, which can help or hinder
• Goalkeeper's influence: A confident goalkeeper can intimidate; a nervous one can embolden the kicker

Player Selection Strategy

Penalty shootout success depends heavily on who is selected and in what order.

The Fifth Penalty: The fifth penalty is often the most important. If the score is level after four penalties each, the fifth can be decisive. The team that scores their fifth while the opponent misses effectively wins the shootout. Because of this pressure, teams typically select their best penalty taker for the fifth spot.

Early Penalties: Weaker penalty takers often go early (1st, 2nd, or 3rd) to avoid the highest-pressure situations. Early misses are recoverable; late misses are devastating.

Goalkeeper Selection: While outfield players take the penalties, the goalkeeper's ability to save is crucial. Some goalkeepers are exceptional at reading kickers and making saves; others are poor. This affects the team's overall success rate.

Psychological Order: Teams consider not just skill but also confidence and mental resilience. A player who is calm under pressure might be selected early; a player who thrives on momentum might be saved for later.

The "Long Walk"

One of the most psychologically intense moments in football is the walk from the centre circle to the penalty spot. This 12-yard walk gives the kicker time to think, worry, and doubt. The goalkeeper watches, the crowd roars, and the kicker's heart pounds.

This psychological toll is real. Players have reported that the walk is harder than the kick itself. Some players use rituals (specific breathing, music in their head) to manage anxiety. Others deliberately rush to avoid overthinking.

Penalty Shootout Statistics and Success Rates

Overall Win Rates and First-Mover Advantage

Extensive statistical analysis of penalty shootouts reveals:

• First team win rate (ABAB): ~60%
• Second team win rate (ABAB): ~40%
• Shootouts are not decided by luck: Team strength, skill, and psychology predict outcomes better than random chance

This 60-40 split is consistent across decades and competitions, confirming that the first-team advantage is real and significant.

Home Team Advantage: Research also shows that home teams are awarded penalties at a higher rate during regular play (~55.8% of penalties go to the home team). This bias carries into shootouts, giving home teams a subtle edge.

Conversion Rates and Scoring Patterns

• Penalty conversion in shootouts: 75-80%
• Penalty conversion in regular play: 85%
• The pressure penalty: Shootout penalties are 5-10% less likely to be scored than open-play penalties

This gap is entirely due to pressure. The technical skill is identical; the psychological environment is different.

Goalkeeper Save Rates:

• Regular play penalty saves: ~10-15%
• Shootout penalty saves: ~20-25%

Shootout goalkeepers save more penalties because they have time to prepare and focus on reading the kicker. In open play, penalties are often sudden; in shootouts, the goalkeeper knows exactly what's coming and can study the kicker's technique.

Team Strength Predicts Outcome

Contrary to popular belief that shootouts are "a lottery," research shows that team strength significantly predicts shootout outcomes.

Studies analyzing the "market value" of teams (based on player salaries and transfer fees) show:

• Stronger teams win more shootouts
• The difference in team strength is a better predictor than the first-team advantage
• Skill and preparation matter more than luck

This suggests that penalty shootout success can be improved through training, mental preparation, and selecting the right players.

Famous Penalty Shootouts That Changed Football History

1976 UEFA Euro Final: Czechoslovakia vs. West Germany

The Match: Czechoslovakia 2-2 West Germany
The Shootout: Czechoslovakia won 5-3
The Significance: The first official penalty shootout in a major tournament

This match introduced the world to penalty shootouts. After 120 minutes of play, the score was tied 2-2. The shootout was tense and dramatic, but Czechoslovakia's victory was sealed by Antonín Panenka's iconic chip—a delicate, floating penalty down the middle while the German goalkeeper dived away.

The Panenka penalty became legendary. It showed audacity, confidence, and a willingness to take risks under extreme pressure. Today, any chipped penalty is called a "Panenka."

2006 FIFA World Cup Final: Italy vs. France

The Match: Italy 1-1 France
The Shootout: Italy won 5-3
The Significance: One of the most controversial World Cup finals ever

This final is remembered for two things: the penalty shootout and Zinedine Zidane's headbutt on Marco Materazzi just minutes before the shootout. Zidane was sent off, reducing France to 10 men. In the shootout, David Trezeguet missed for France, and Italy won.

The shootout is overshadowed by the headbutt, but it demonstrated how momentum, emotion, and discipline affect shootout outcomes. France's emotional turmoil (losing their captain) likely contributed to their shootout failure.

2012 UEFA Euro Final: Spain vs. Italy

The Match: Spain 4-0 Italy
The Significance: Spain's dominance made a shootout unnecessary

This wasn't actually a penalty shootout—Spain won 4-0 in regular time, dominating Italy completely. However, it's worth noting that stronger teams often avoid shootouts because they win in regular play. Spain's superior skill meant they didn't need a shootout.

2020 UEFA Euro Final: Italy vs. England

The Match: Italy 3-2 England (after extra time)
The Shootout: Italy won 3-2 in sudden death
The Significance: England's emotional loss on home soil

This shootout was dramatic and heartbreaking for England. Playing at home (Wembley Stadium), England took the lead early in extra time through Luke Shaw. However, Italy equalized, and the match went to penalties.

England's shootout failure was notable because:

• Young players missed: Bukayo Saka (age 19) and Marcus Rashford (age 23) missed crucial penalties
• Experience mattered: Italy's experienced penalty takers converted their kicks
• Home advantage failed: Despite playing at home, England lost

This shootout showed that even home advantage and early extra-time goals don't guarantee success in penalties. Mental resilience and experience matter more.

How Do Penalty Shootouts Affect Betting Markets?

Betting on Shootout Outcomes

For bettors on platforms like Betmana, penalty shootouts create specific betting opportunities:

Match Outcome with Shootout:

• "Team A to win via penalty shootout" — Odds reflect the probability that the match goes to a shootout AND Team A wins
• "Team B to win via penalty shootout" — Odds reflect the probability that the match goes to a shootout AND Team B wins
• "Draw/Shootout" — Less common; reflects a draw after extra time (before the shootout is decided)

Odds and Implied Probability: Bookmakers adjust odds based on:

• The first-team advantage (60% vs. 40%)
• Team strength and historical shootout performance
• Player quality and shootout experience
• Psychological factors (fatigue, confidence, home advantage)

A stronger team taking the first penalty might be offered at 1.80 odds (55% implied probability), while the weaker team taking second might be 2.10 odds (48% implied probability). The remaining 7% accounts for the bookmaker's margin.

Penalty Shootout Specials

Some bookmakers offer specialized shootout bets:

• Exact Outcome: "Team A wins 5-4 in sudden death" — Specific scorelines with higher odds
• Next Penalty Taker: "Predict which player takes the next penalty" — Requires knowledge of team strategy
• Total Goals in Shootout: "Over/Under 8.5 goals" — Reflects expected conversion rates
• First Team to Miss: "Which team will miss first?" — Psychological prediction

These bets require deeper knowledge of teams, players, and shootout dynamics.

Value in Shootout Markets

Experienced bettors can find value in shootout markets because:

1. First-Team Advantage Underpriced: Many casual bettors don't fully account for the 60% first-team win rate. Backing the first team to win via shootout can offer value.

2. Team Strength Mispriced: Bookmakers may overrate or underrate teams based on recent form rather than historical shootout success. Stronger teams offer value.

3. Psychological Factors: Fatigue, confidence, and momentum are hard to quantify. Bettors who understand psychology can identify mispricings.

4. Experience Matters: Teams with shootout experience (e.g., Italy, Spain) perform better than their skill level might suggest. This is sometimes underpriced.

Common Misconceptions About Penalty Shootouts

Misconception 1: "It's Just Luck"

The Truth: Penalty shootouts are not determined by luck. Team strength, skill, psychology, and preparation predict outcomes.

Evidence:

• Stronger teams win more shootouts
• The first team wins 60% of the time (not 50%, which would indicate luck)
• Conversion rates vary by player skill and experience
• Teams can improve shootout performance through training

Luck plays a minor role (a deflection, a goalkeeper's guess), but skill dominates.

Misconception 2: "Penalties Are Unfair to the Attacking Team"

The Truth: Attacking teams (the penalty takers) have a significant advantage.

Evidence:

• Shootout conversion rate: 75-80%
• Goalkeeper save rate: 20-25%
• The kicker knows where they're aiming; the goalkeeper must guess
• Pressure affects both sides, but the attacker has the initiative

If anything, penalty shootouts are biased toward the attacking team, not against it.

Misconception 3: "The First Team Always Wins"

The Truth: The first team wins 60% of the time, not 100%.

Evidence:

• 40% of shootouts are won by the second team
• The second team can overcome the deficit with confidence and skill
• Famous examples: England's 2020 Euro loss (taking first but losing) show that advantage isn't destiny

The first-team advantage is real but not overwhelming. Skill, psychology, and luck can swing the outcome.

What's the Future of Penalty Shootouts?

The ABBA Format and Fairness

FIFA continues to study the ABBA format as a potentially fairer alternative. While ABBA hasn't been adopted at the senior World Cup level, it remains a possibility for future tournaments.

Arguments for ABBA:

• Reduces first-team advantage to ~50%
• More mathematically fair
• Used successfully in youth tournaments

Arguments against ABBA:

• Breaks 50+ years of tradition
• Viewers find ABAB more intuitive
• Advantage is acceptable (not overwhelming)

It's unlikely ABBA will replace ABAB in the near future, but it may be tested in more competitions.

Technology and VAR Integration

Modern football uses Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to review critical decisions, including shootouts:

• Goalkeeper fouls: VAR can review whether the goalkeeper moved off the line illegally
• Ball contact: VAR confirms whether the ball crossed the line
• Interference: VAR can identify outside interference that affects the kick

Technology has made shootouts fairer and more accurate, reducing controversial decisions.

Possible Rule Changes

Discussions about shootout modifications include:

• Sudden death modifications: Some propose that sudden death continues until one team has an insurmountable lead (e.g., 2-goal difference), rather than 1-goal
• Fatigue considerations: Concerns about player fatigue after 120 minutes might lead to rule changes
• Shooter rotation: Proposals to allow substitutions for injured penalty takers

However, major rule changes are unlikely without consensus from FIFA, IFAB, and national federations.

Frequently Asked Questions About Penalty Shootouts

What is the success rate of penalties in a shootout?

Penalty shootout conversion rates are approximately 75-80%, compared to 85% in regular play. The 5-10% drop is due to psychological pressure. Goalkeepers save about 20-25% of shootout penalties, compared to 10-15% in regular play.

How many penalties does each team get?

Each team nominates five players to take one penalty each. If the score is level after five penalties each, the shootout enters sudden death, where teams alternate taking one penalty each until one team gains an advantage.

Who decides which team takes the first penalty?

A coin toss before the shootout determines which team takes the first penalty. The coin toss is conducted by the referee with both team captains present.

Can a player take more than one penalty in a shootout?

No. Each selected player takes exactly one penalty. In sudden death, if all five original penalty takers have already kicked, the same players can take additional penalties in a new round.

What happens if a player is injured during a penalty shootout?

If a player is injured and cannot take their designated penalty, the team loses that penalty. No substitution is allowed. The shootout continues with the remaining players.

Is the first team to shoot at an advantage?

Yes. The first team wins approximately 60% of ABAB shootouts, compared to 40% for the second team. This advantage is due to psychological momentum and pressure. However, it's not guaranteed; skill and psychology can overcome the disadvantage.

What is a "Panenka penalty"?

A Panenka penalty is a chipped penalty kick down the middle of the goal, named after Antonín Panenka, who executed this technique in the 1976 UEFA Euro final. It's an audacious, high-risk technique that requires confidence and precision.

Can a goalkeeper take a penalty in a shootout?

Technically yes, but it's extremely rare and not recommended. A goalkeeper can be nominated as one of the five penalty takers. However, goalkeepers are typically poor at taking penalties and are not trained for it. No goalkeeper has ever been nominated in a major tournament shootout.

What is the ABBA format?

The ABBA format (or tennis tiebreak format) is an alternative to the traditional ABAB. Teams take two consecutive penalties before the other team shoots:

• Team A: penalties 1-2
• Team B: penalties 3-4
• Team A: penalty 5
• (And so on in sudden death)

ABBA reduces the first-team advantage to ~50%, making shootouts fairer. However, it's only used in youth tournaments and some domestic cups, not in major senior competitions.

Which team has the best penalty shootout record?

Italy has one of the best shootout records in major tournaments, having won several shootouts in World Cups and Euros. Germany and Spain also have strong records. These teams benefit from experience, quality penalty takers, and strong goalkeepers.

How long does a penalty shootout last?

A typical penalty shootout lasts 5-15 minutes, depending on whether it goes to sudden death. The first five penalties each take about 30-60 seconds, so the initial five-penalty round lasts about 5 minutes. Sudden death can extend this significantly if many rounds are needed.

Related Terms

• Extra Time — The 30-minute period before a penalty shootout in knockout matches
• Method of Victory — How a match is decided (regular time, extra time, shootout)
• Correct Score — A betting market on the exact final score
• Penalty Kick — A direct free kick from the penalty mark awarded for fouls
• Knockout Stage — Tournament rounds where losers are eliminated