FIFA wants a single draw for penalty shootouts before the knockout stages of the World Cup

FIFA is trying to change the rules of penalty shootouts before the start of the knockout stages of the World Cup. According to the proposal, the referee would conduct only one draw, and the winning team would have to choose either the order of the executions or the goal at which the penalties will be taken. Currently, the regulations provide for two draws, allowing a team to gain the advantage of both decisions if they win both.

The new rule aims to make the procedure more balanced and to eliminate situations where the same team controls both the order of the executions and the choice of the goal. The proposal must be approved by IFAB before the start of the knockout stages, scheduled for June 28. FIFA believes that the change is important because, in decisive matches, both the order of the penalties and the choice of the goal can have a significant psychological impact on players and teams.