FIFA Proposes Single Coin Toss for World Cup Penalty Shootouts
Critics argue this dual-toss system allows a single team to secure two distinct tactical advantages before a single penalty is even kicked. Photo: EFE.
June 24, 2026 Hour: 3:45 pm
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FIFA formally requested International Football Association Board (IFAB) authorization to immediately modify the World Cup penalty shootout protocol, reducing the process to a single coin toss to ensure competitive equity between teams.
The unprecedented regulatory proposal, introduced in the middle of active competition, aims to transform the technical guidelines governing decisive penalty shootouts.
FIFA wants to implement this rule change starting in the upcoming round of 32 matches of the current World Cup, with the objective to reduce the impact of luck and establish equal playing conditions for both squads during these intense moments of the international tournament.
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Currently, international football regulations mandate that referees conduct two consecutive coin tosses before a shootout begins. The first coin toss determines the specific goalpost where all players will take their shots. The second coin toss decides the kicking order, establishing which team shoots first.
Under the reform proposed by FIFA, led by Gianni Infantino, this process will be simplified into a single coin toss.
The winning team captain receives the priority to choose whether their squad kicks first or second. Immediately after, the losing captain automatically receives the authority to choose the specific stadium goalpost for the shootout. This ensures that neither side can secure a double advantage.
This technical restructuring responds to previous controversies and formal complaints raised by multiple football clubs in high-level international tournaments.
Balanced Mental Pressure
By unifying these coin tosses, FIFA aims to prevent a single team from monopolizing both strategic advantages. Football experts agree that both the kicking order and the choice of the pitch side -where local fans are concentrated- heavily influence the mental performance of players.
This extraordinary technical adjustment will force national team managers to reevaluate their strategic plans. Coaches must adapt their preparation for both goalkeepers and penalty takers under this new regulatory framework. The reform promises to add a layer of distributive justice to the knockout stages, changing how teams approach the most dramatic phase of international football.
Author: Laura V. Mor
Source: Agencies
