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The 2026 FIFA World Cup has entered the knockout rounds, where—unlike the group phase—matches cannot finish in a tie.
If the score is tied after 90 minutes, a winner must be found. Games will proceed to extra time and, if sides remain level after that, a penalty shootout will follow.
Here's everything you need to know about how extra time and penalty shootouts operate at the World Cup, including the rules, substitutions and more.
How Extra Time Works at the World Cup
Extra time at the World Cup functions the same way it does in any other knockout competition where a winner must be determined.
If the score is tied after the initial 90 minutes, plus any added time, the referee blows the full-time whistle to signal the conclusion of regular play. If the teams remain deadlocked, they head to their respective benches or changing rooms before returning to the pitch after a five-minute interval.
Play then continues with extra time to find a winner.
Every match from the Round of 32 through to the World Cup final can be settled this way if the score stays level after 90 minutes.
How Long is Extra Time at the World Cup?
Extra time at the World Cup lasts 30 minutes and is divided into two 15-minute halves.
The teams swap ends after the first 15-minute period, with only a short interval between halves and no extended rest. Unlike regular time, there is no halftime team talk in the changing room.
As with the first 90 minutes, the referee can also add stoppage time at the end of each 15-minute period to compensate for delays caused by injuries, substitutions or time-wasting.
Do Teams Get an Extra Substitution in Extra Time?
Yes. Teams are permitted up to five substitutions during regular time, but if a match goes to extra time, each side is given one additional substitute.
That means teams can make up to six substitutions in total, regardless of whether they used all five of their allocated changes during the initial 90 minutes.
What Happens if the Score is Still Level After Extra Time?
If the score is still tied after extra time, the match is settled by a penalty shootout.
How Penalty Shootouts Work at the World Cup
Penalty shootouts are used when teams cannot be separated after 90 minutes and extra time.
Before the kicks get underway, the referee selects the goal to be used for the shootout, typically based on practical factors such as pitch conditions, safety or crowd positioning. While captains may be consulted, the final call rests with the referee.
A coin toss is then held. The captain who wins the toss decides whether their team will take the first or second penalty.
Each team takes five penalties, alternating kicks between sides. The team that scores the most out of five wins the match, with the shootout ending early if one side becomes unreachable.
Only players on the pitch at the end of extra time are eligible to take part, and goalkeepers must stay on the goal line until the ball is struck; any violation can result in the penalty being retaken.
If the scores remain level after five penalties each, the shootout moves to sudden death, where teams take one kick each until a winner emerges.
Does the World Cup Still Use the Golden Goal Rule?
No, the World Cup no longer uses the golden goal rule.
First introduced by FIFA in 1993 and last applied at the 2002 World Cup, the rule meant that during extra time, the first team to score would instantly win the match, ending the game immediately. If no goals were scored after 30 minutes of extra time, the match would proceed to a penalty shootout.
FIFA introduced the rule in an effort to promote attacking play and reduce the number of shootouts. In practice, however, it often produced the opposite effect, with teams growing more cautious in extra time to avoid conceding, resulting in more conservative and tentative periods of play.
As a result, the golden goal rule was eventually abolished, and extra time reverted to the standard full 30 minutes regardless of whether goals are scored.
World Cup Extra Time and Penalty Rules FAQ
Do You Get More Subs in Extra Time?
Yes. Teams are allowed five substitutions in normal time and receive one additional substitution if the match goes to extra time, for a total of six.
What is the "Golden Goal"?
The golden goal was a now-defunct rule where the first team to score in extra time would immediately win the match. It was abolished after 2002.
Can a World Cup Final Go to Penalties?
Yes. If the final is level after 90 minutes and extra time, it is decided by a penalty shootout.
SI answers is our AI answer engine trained on human-created content.
How Many Penalties Does Each Team Take?
Each team takes five penalties initially. If the score is still tied after that, the shootout moves to sudden death.
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Barnaby Lane is a highly experienced sports writer who has contributed to The Times, FourFourTwo Magazine, TalkSPORT, and Business Insider. Over the years, he has had the privilege of interviewing some of the biggest names in world sport, including Usain Bolt, Rafael Nadal, Christian Pulisic, and more.