World Cup Penalty Rule Change
FIFA Proposes One Coin Toss Rule for World Cup Penalty Shootouts
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Key Points
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One coin toss would replace the current two-toss system, with the winner choosing to take the first kick or to decide the goal for the shootout; the second toss would no longer occur.
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IFAB would need to approve the change before the knockout stage begins, with a deadline around Sunday to allow the rule to be used in the first knockout matches of the World Cup.
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The discussion is taking place in the context of mid-tournament rule deliberations at a 48-team World Cup staged in the US, Mexico and Canada.
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A high-profile shootout example cited in coverage is Arsenal’s two-toss failure in a Champions League shootout against Paris Saint-Germain, underscoring concerns about the current system.
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The Times' Martyn Ziegler is identified in coverage as the reporter signaling FIFA’s push to change penalty shootout rules, with The Times named as the source of the report.
FIFA is pushing to scrap the two-coin-toss system for penalty shootouts and replace it with a single toss before the 2026 World Cup knockout stage begins, according to The Times. The winner of that one toss would choose either to take the first kick or to pick the goal where kicks are taken — the loser gets the remaining option. IFAB, the body that writes football's rules, must approve the change by roughly Sunday to allow it to take effect for the Round of 32, which starts June 28, GiveMeSport reported.
The proposal is an unusually fast move. Mid-tournament rule changes are extremely rare in World Cup history. The New York Times confirmed FIFA has formally asked IFAB to fast-track the decision, calling the current two-toss system a source of unfair "double advantage."
Arsenal's Champions League Loss Sparked the Push
The catalyst was the UEFA Champions League Final on May 30, 2026, in Budapest. PSG beat Arsenal on penalties after winning both coin tosses. PSG captain Marquinhos chose the end packed with PSG fans and elected to kick first. Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhães missed the decisive spot kick. PSG won the cup. The "double win" on the toss drew immediate criticism, according to SPORTbible.
Research by Professor Ignacio Palacios-Huerta found that the team kicking first wins the shootout about 60.5% of the time. Controlling both the end and the kick order — as PSG did — compounds that edge further. David Dein, the former Arsenal and FA vice-chairman, had already proposed a single-toss fix to FIFA and IFAB years before the Budapest final, The Times reported.
How the New Single-Toss Rule Would Actually Work
Under current IFAB Law 10.3, referees run two separate coin tosses before every shootout. The first picks the end of the pitch. The second picks which team shoots first. Under the proposed change, one toss covers both decisions at once. The winning captain picks one advantage — end or order. The other team automatically gets the remaining advantage, according to Ladbible.
That means no team can sweep both variables. Captains will face a new strategic call: is it better to kick first and apply early pressure, or to shoot at the goal where your fans are roaring? GiveMeSport noted the change would also cut "dead time" before penalties for the global TV audience — a priority for FIFA across a 104-match tournament.
Critics Question the Ethics of Changing Rules Mid-Tournament
Not everyone is on board. Some analysts question whether it is fair to alter competitive rules after 48 teams have already played group-stage matches under the old system. Critics call it a "moving the goalposts" approach that could damage the tournament's integrity, according to NewsBreak.
The 2026 World Cup has already rolled out several rule changes, including a ban on players covering their mouths and a 10-second limit to exit the pitch during substitutions. Some critics, including writers at The Independent, have framed these rapid tweaks as part of a broader "entertainment-first" agenda tied to the tournament's North American commercial context — a World Cup projected to add $41 billion to global GDP.
IFAB Decision Expected Within 48 Hours
IFAB is the only body that can approve the change. It is reviewing what sources describe as an "unprecedented" mid-tournament request. A decision is expected by approximately June 25, according to GiveMeSport. If IFAB says yes, the new rule would apply immediately for the Round of 32 — the first knockout round of the expanded 48-team tournament.
The 2026 World Cup features 32 knockout matches in the new Round of 32 alone — double the number from previous 32-team tournaments. That means far more chances for shootouts than ever before. The New York Times noted that FIFA's push reflects a wider effort by FIFA President Gianni Infantino to make the game "more attractive and fairer" for a record global audience.
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