A penalty shootout is the method used to decide a knockout soccer match that is still level after regular time and, where it is played, extra time. Officially called kicks from the penalty mark, it has each team take a series of penalty kicks, and the team that scores more of them wins and advances. It is a tiebreaker, used only when a competition needs a single winner.
When is a penalty shootout used?
A shootout is used in knockout or elimination games that cannot end in a draw. If the score is level at the end of normal time — and after extra time in competitions that use it — the match goes to kicks from the penalty mark to produce a winner. League matches, which allow draws, do not use shootouts. The shootout exists purely to break a deadlock when one team has to go through.
How does a penalty shootout work?
Before kicks begin, the referee tosses a coin. The winner of the toss decides which goal the kicks will be taken at, and a second toss or decision sets which team kicks first. Teams then take penalties alternately in what is known as ABAB order — one team kicks, then the other, back and forth. All kicks are taken from the penalty mark against the goalkeeper, following the same basic rules as a penalty kick in open play.
Each team takes up to five kicks in the first phase, and every kick must be taken by a different eligible player. A team cannot use its best striker twice until everyone eligible has taken one. As soon as one team has an unbeatable lead — for example, leading by more goals than the other team has kicks remaining — the shootout ends immediately, even before all ten kicks are taken.
What happens if the shootout is still tied?
If both teams are level after their five kicks each, the shootout goes to sudden death. In this phase, each team takes one kick per round. If both score or both miss, another round follows. The shootout ends the instant one team scores and the other misses within the same round. Every eligible player must take a kick before anyone is allowed to take a second, so sudden death can cycle through the entire team, including the goalkeeper.
Who is eligible to take the kicks?
Only players who were on the field of play at the end of the match are eligible to take part in the shootout. This includes a player temporarily off the field for treatment or to fix equipment, as long as they were on the pitch when play ended. A player already substituted off during the match cannot return to take a kick. If the two teams have different numbers of players — for example, because of a red card — the team with more players must reduce to equal the smaller side before kicks start. This is called reduce to equate, and it keeps the shootout fair.
How is a shootout different from a normal penalty kick?
Although both are taken from the penalty mark, a shootout and an in-game penalty are not the same thing. The table below shows the main differences.
| Feature | Penalty kick (in play) | Penalty shootout |
|---|---|---|
| When it happens | For a foul in the penalty area during play | After a tied knockout match ends |
| Counts toward match score? | Yes | No, the match is recorded as a draw |
| Rebounds allowed? | Yes, the kicker can follow up | No, one attempt only per kick |
| Number of kicks | A single kick | Up to five each, then sudden death |
What are the basic rules for each kick?
Every kick in a shootout follows the core rules of a penalty. The ball is placed on the penalty mark, the kicker is identified to the referee, and the defending goalkeeper must stay on the goal line, between the posts, with at least part of one foot on or in line with the line until the ball is kicked. The kicker must strike the ball forward, and once it is played the kick is complete — there are no rebounds, so a shot that comes back off the post or the goalkeeper cannot be followed up. If the goalkeeper commits a clear offense and the kick is missed, the referee can order it to be retaken, and repeated encroachment can lead to a caution.
The goalkeeper may be changed during a shootout if the current keeper is injured and the team has not used all its substitutes, and an outfield player is even allowed to go in goal. These details keep the contest fair while preserving the drama of a one-on-one duel.
Common misconceptions about shootouts
A common misconception is that shootout goals count in the final score. They do not — the match is officially a draw, and the shootout only decides who advances. Another is that a player can score off the rebound in a shootout; unlike an in-game penalty, a shootout kick is a single attempt with no follow-up. Some fans also assume the same player can keep taking kicks in sudden death, but every eligible player must take one before anyone repeats.
Bottom line
A penalty shootout is soccer’s tiebreaker for knockout games that finish level. Teams alternate kicks from the penalty mark, up to five each and then sudden death, using different eligible players who were on the field at the final whistle. It decides who goes through, but it never changes the official result — the match itself still goes into the books as a draw.
Frequently asked questions
When is a penalty shootout used?
A shootout is used to decide a knockout match that is still level after full time and, where played, extra time. It is only used when a competition needs a single winner and cannot allow a draw or a replay.
How many penalties does each team take?
Each team takes up to five kicks in the first phase, each by a different eligible player. If the scores are level after five kicks each, the shootout moves to sudden death with one kick per team per round.
What is sudden death in a shootout?
Sudden death begins if teams are tied after their five kicks. Each team takes one kick per round, and the shootout ends the moment one team scores and the other misses in the same round.
Who is allowed to take the kicks?
Only players who were on the field at the end of play are eligible, including any temporarily off for treatment. Before kicks begin, the team with more players must reduce to match the smaller side, called reduce to equate.
Does a penalty shootout change the match score?
No. Goals scored in a shootout do not count in the match result. The game is officially recorded as a draw, and the shootout only decides which team advances.