World Cup 2026: FIFA reverses a radical decision it was going to make regarding penalty kicks!

FIFA explored the possibility of changing the penalty shoot‑out rule midway through the World Cup but ultimately decided against implementing the change.

The world governing body had opened discussions with IFAB, proposing a single coin toss between captains that would allow the winner to choose either the order of penalties or which end to take them. The change was intended to prevent one team from gaining a double advantage.

However, according to The Athletic, those talks ended with the existing approach being maintained. IFAB were initially open to trialling the single toss in the future, but not during the current tournament.

As a result, the current format of two coin tosses will remain. The first determines which team goes first, and the second decides which end the penalties will be taken at.

The issue of penalty shoot‑out fairness has been a subject of debate, particularly after recent high‑profile matches. In the 2022 World Cup final, Argentina won the shoot‑out after Lionel Messi’s side took their penalties in front of their own fans. France, who lost, had won the second toss to go first.

FIFA’s decision to hold off on the change means the current format will remain in place for the remainder of the tournament. The debate over whether a single coin toss would be fairer is likely to continue, but for now, teams will continue to face the same penalty shoot‑out rules that have been in place for years. The discussion, however, highlights FIFA’s willingness to explore improvements to the game’s regulations, even if change is not always immediate.

Hazem Mlhem |

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Hazem Mlhem est un rédacteur sportif expérimenté, animé par une passion pour le football africain.

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