FIFA World Cup FAQ: How Are Penalties Awarded And What Are The Rules?

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has published a comprehensive guide detailing the rules and procedures governing penalty kicks, a critical and high-pressure element of soccer, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This informational release aims to clarify the regulations for players, officials, and fans, ensuring widespread understanding of one of the sport's most decisive moments. A penalty kick, often abbreviated as PK, is a direct free kick taken from the penalty spot, situated 12 yards from the center of the goal line, initiating a one-on-one duel between a designated attacker and the opposing goalkeeper. The kick is awarded when a defending player commits a direct free-kick offense—such as tripping, pushing, or a deliberate handball—within their own penalty area. This rectangular area extends 18 yards from the goal line and is 44 yards wide. In the modern game, penalties can be given by the on-field referee in real-time or following a review by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system. The rules impose specific obligations on both the taker and the goalkeeper. The penalty taker, typically a player with proven finishing ability like England's captain Harry Kane, has freedom in their run-up to deceive the goalkeeper. However, they are prohibited from performing illegal feinting—stopping completely or making a dummy kick at the end of the run-up—which results in a yellow card and an indirect free kick for the defense. Furthermore, the taker cannot touch the ball twice before another player makes contact; a successful kick under this condition is retaken, while a failed one results in a goal kick. Conversely, the goalkeeper must remain on the goal line, facing the kicker, until the ball is struck. They are permitted to move laterally along the line but cannot advance forward before the kick is taken. All other players must be outside the penalty area and at least 10 yards from the penalty spot until the ball is in play. These tightly controlled conditions create a moment of intense psychological pressure, where a goal is statistically highly probable, making penalty decisions pivotal in match outcomes, especially in knockout tournaments like the upcoming World Cup.