What Is a Penalty Shootout in Football? A Simple Guide

A penalty shootout is one of the most dramatic ways to decide a football match. It is used in certain knockout competitions when the teams are still level after the match and any required extra time.

But how does a penalty shootout actually work?

What Is a Penalty Shootout?

A penalty shootout is a method used to determine which team advances when a match cannot finish as a draw.

Players from each team take penalty kicks from the penalty mark while the opposing goalkeeper tries to save them.

The team that scores more successful penalties after the required rounds wins the shootout.

How Does a Shootout Start?

Before the penalties begin, the referee conducts the required procedures to determine which goal will be used and which team takes the first kick.

The teams then take turns taking penalties.

Only eligible players can participate according to the competition's rules.

The First Five Penalties

Each team normally takes up to five penalties during the initial phase of a shootout.

The teams alternate kicks.

For example:

1. Team A takes a penalty.

2. Team B takes a penalty.

3. Team A takes another.

4. Team B takes another.

This continues until the initial rounds are complete or the result has already been decided.

What If the Teams Are Still Tied?

If both teams have the same number of successful penalties after the initial rounds, the shootout continues.

Each team takes one penalty at a time.

This is often called sudden death.

If one team scores and the other fails to score in the same round, the team that scored wins the shootout.

Can Goalkeepers Take Penalties?

Yes.

Goalkeepers are eligible to take penalties in a shootout if they are among the players eligible to participate.

Some goalkeepers have become well known for taking or scoring penalties.

Can a Player Take More Than One Penalty?

During the initial rounds, a player normally cannot take another penalty until the other eligible players on their team have taken a kick, subject to the competition's rules.

If the shootout continues for additional rounds, players can take penalties again.

What Happens to Missed Penalties?

A penalty can fail to result in a goal for several reasons.

The goalkeeper might save it, the ball might miss the goal, or it might hit the goal frame.

The other team then gets its turn to take a penalty.

Do Shootout Goals Count Toward the Match Score?

No.

Goals scored during a penalty shootout are used to determine which team wins the shootout. They are not added to the match's playing score in the same way as goals scored during normal or extra time.

Why Are Penalty Shootouts Used?

Penalty shootouts provide a practical way to determine a winner when a knockout competition cannot end in a draw.

They are particularly common in major cup competitions and tournament knockout stages.

Final Thoughts

Penalty shootouts can be tense because each kick can have a major effect on the result.

After normal time and, when required, extra time have finished, the shootout gives both teams a structured way to determine which one advances.