Overview
- The Round of 32 produced two high-profile shootout upsets as Paraguay eliminated Germany and Morocco knocked out the Netherlands on penalties after matches finished level following extra time.
- Extra time at the World Cup consists of two 15‑minute halves and is not sudden death, and if teams remain tied after 120 minutes the match goes to a penalty shootout of five alternating kicks per side.
- Shootout rules require only players who finished the match on the field to take kicks, ban rebounds, and forbid goalkeepers from leaving the line early; referees and VAR have already enforced those rules and ordered at least one retake.
- Media and coaches are debating likely penalty-takers and keepers’ records as teams plan under pressure, with FOX Sports publishing speculative U.S. taker lists and Matt Freese’s club and Gold Cup shootout saves noted as a factor.
- FIFA has asked IFAB to consider collapsing the two pre‑shootout coin tosses into a single toss, a pending procedural change that would alter who chooses kick order or end if approved.