FIFA seeks penalty shootout rule change ahead of WC knockout stage

FIFA is aiming to overhaul the current penalty shootout regulations in time for the upcoming World Cup knockout rounds, scheduled to begin on June 28. The proposed amendment, which currently awaits formal approval from the International Football Association Board (IFAB), seeks to streamline the pre-shootout procedure by reducing the number of coin tosses from two to one.

Under the game's existing framework, referees are mandated to conduct two distinct coin tosses prior to a shootout. The first determines which team kicks first, while the second decides which end of the pitch will host the penalties. However, FIFA’s new proposal would grant the winner of a single coin toss the choice of either selecting the kicking order or choosing the preferred goalpost.

This tactical adjustment aims to prevent a recurrence of scenarios like the recent Champions League final, where Paris Saint-Germain won both independent tosses, effectively gaining total control over both the kicking order and the end of the pitch. If IFAB fast-tracks and approves the proposal before the weekend deadline, the rule will immediately take effect for the remainder of the tournament, though it remains unclear whether the mandate will automatically extend to other global football competitions.