In the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the rules for extra time and penalty shootouts in the knockout stages remain consistent with established modern standards, ensuring a definitive winner is determined for every match. ### Key Rules Summary * **Extra Time:** If a match is tied after 90 minutes (plus stoppage time), it proceeds to 30 minutes of extra time, divided into two 15-minute halves. There is no "Golden Goal" rule; the full 30 minutes are played regardless of goals scored. * **Substitutions:** Teams are permitted five substitutions during regulation time. If a match enters extra time, each team is granted one additional substitution, allowing for a maximum of six. * **Penalty Shootouts:** If the score remains level after the full 30 minutes of extra time, the match is decided by a penalty shootout. Each team takes five initial kicks, alternating turns. If the score is still tied after five kicks, the shootout enters a "sudden death" phase, where teams take one kick each until a winner is determined. Only players on the pitch at the end of extra time are eligible to participate. ### What Changed and Why It Matters * **No Golden Goal:** The "Golden Goal" rule (where the first team to score in extra time won immediately) was abolished after the 2002 World Cup. It was originally intended to encourage attacking play, but it often resulted in more cautious, defensive strategies as teams feared conceding a sudden, match-ending goal. * **Expanded Format:** With the 2026 World Cup's expanded format, these knockout rules now apply starting from the new Round of 32, increasing the number of matches that may require these tie-breaking procedures. ### Sources The information above is based on current reporting from major sports outlets covering the 2026 tournament, including: * **Sports Illustrated (SI):** Provides a comprehensive breakdown of the current extra time and substitution rules. * **The Athletic (NYT):** Offers historical context on the evolution of extra time rules in the World Cup. * **Various sports news outlets (e.g., SB Nation, Fox Sports):** Confirm the consistent application of these rules for the 2026 tournament.