What are the extra-time and penalty shoot-out rules and format at 2026 World Cup ahead of final between Spain and Argentina?

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The 2026 FIFA World Cup final is here, with the nerve-wracking prospect of extra-time or a penalty shoot-out on the horizon if Spain and Argentina cannot be separated after 90 minutes. But what are the rules at the tournament?

Lionel Messi Argentina

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Some of the most iconic moments in World Cup history have come after the end of 120 minutes, including Roberto Baggio's missed penalty in the 1994 final between Italy and Brazil, and Argentina beating France in a shoot-out to lift the trophy four years ago.

There could be more extra-time and penalty nerves in Sunday's World Cup final at the end of a tournament that has already featured several moments of spot-kick drama.

Germany v Paraguay in the round of 32 was the first match that was decided after 90 minutes, with the South Americans shocking the four-time winners on penalties.

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The agony and ecstasy continued when the Netherlands and Morocco went to penalties, with the Africans winning to set up a meeting with Canada.

Australia and Egypt then went to a shoot-out having finished 1-1 in their tie, with the African side reaching the last of 16.

Switzerland sealed their place in the quarter-final with a shoot-out win over Colombia after a goalless draw with the South Americans.

Additionally, four matches have been settled in extra-time; Belgium's remarkable 3-2 win over Senegal in the round of 32 was sealed with a 125th-minute Youri Tielemans penalty, while there were three goals in the added half-hour when Argentina produced a remarkable comeback to win 3-2 over surprise packages Cabo Verde.

England needed extra-time to squeeze past Norway 2-1 in the quarter-finals thanks to a Jude Bellingham brace, and Argentina again could not get the job done in 90 minutes when they beat Switzerland 3-1 to reach the last four.

What are the extra-time rules at the World Cup?

If a World Cup knockout game finishes level after 90 minutes, it goes to extra-time.

This is a 30-minute period made up of two 15-minute halves, with a short break in between for teams to take on fluids and change ends.

There will not be any hydration breaks during the extra-time periods.

Each team is given an extra substitution to be used in extra-time.

There is also no 'golden goal' or 'sudden death' in extra-time, so the entire 30-minute period will be played to its conclusion, no matter how many goals are scored.

The 'golden goal' rule was used at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, with one winning goal scored in 1998 by France’s Laurent Blanc, and three in 2002. It has not been used since 2002.

What are the penalty shoot-out rules at the World Cup?

If the game remains level after extra-time, it then goes to a penalty shoot-out.

First introduced at the 1978 World Cup, the penalty shoot-out is one of the most dramatic events in football.

The first port of call is deciding who will have the first attempt and at which end of the ground it will be taken. There are two coin tosses to decide this, with the referee performing the toss and the captains making the calls.

A penalty shoot-out consists of five spot-kicks each, with the two teams alternating takers.

Only players who were on the pitch at the end of the match can take part in the shoot-out and every eligible player, including the goalkeepers, must take a penalty before any player can take a second.

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If a winner has not been determined after the initial five penalties, the shoot-out will then continue to a sudden-death stage, with both teams having a penalty each until there is a winner.

There are no rebounds in penalty shoot-outs - meaning players are not allowed to follow up and score if their effort is saved - but the ball can bounce off the goalkeeper or the woodwork and go into the net.

The goalkeeper cannot be off his line before the penalty is struck.

Croatia's Dominik Livakovic was penalised for moving too early against England in the group stage, and Harry Kane got the chance to retake a saved penalty, scoring at the second attempt.

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