FIFA will not change its penalty shootout procedures during the 2026 World Cup, after talks over a modified system failed to produce the agreement needed for immediate implementation.
The governing body had been examining whether to replace the existing two-stage coin toss with a single draw between the two captains. Under the proposed system, the captain who won the toss would have had a choice: either decide which team kicks first, or select which goal the shootout takes place at. The idea was discussed with the International Football Association Board (IFAB), but was set aside to prevent any rule changes mid-tournament.
Penalty shootouts have long been a source of debate, with questions persisting over whether the current process gives either side an unintended advantage. FIFA’s review appears to have been an attempt to streamline pre-shootout proceedings, though the timing made adoption impractical.
Teams competing at the tournament, being held across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, will continue under the existing rules for the remainder of the competition.
