How a penalty shootout works and what its history is
August 22, 2026 · 6 min
Few moments in football generate as much tension as a penalty shootout. It is the most dramatic ending possible, capable of turning a goalkeeper into a hero or leaving an entire fanbase with their hearts in their mouths. Here at Golazo Scores we explain how it works and where it comes from.
When a match goes to penalties
A penalty shootout only happens in knockout matches that need a winner and are still level after normal time. In those situations, extra time is usually played first; if the scores remain level, it goes to penalties.
In a league, a draw stays a draw and the points are shared, so there is no shootout. That is why penalties belong to cups, knockout ties and major finals: matches in which, no matter what, someone has to go through.
How the shootout works
Each team nominates five takers, who take their penalties alternately with the opposition's from the penalty spot, eleven metres from goal. The winner is the side that scores more goals from those five attempts each.
If the scores are still level after five rounds, it goes to 'sudden death': the teams take one kick each and, as soon as one scores and the other misses in the same round, the match is over. That is why a shootout can go on well beyond the initial five kicks.
Where it comes from
Before the penalty shootout existed, drawn knockout matches were settled by replaying them on another day or, in extreme cases, by the toss of a coin. That left football in the hands of chance, something nobody was happy with.
The penalty shootout was adopted in the early 1970s to provide a fair, sporting conclusion. Since then it has become the universal method for breaking a deadlock when the clock has run out.
Finals decided from the spot
Penalty shootouts have decided some of football's most important occasions, including World Cup finals and major continental tournaments. Those endings are forever etched in fans' memories.
Beyond technique, a shootout is a mental battle: nerves, pressure and composure weigh heavily on both the taker and the goalkeeper. That is why people say a penalty is not only missed with the foot but also with the head, and that is a big part of its fascination.
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