Football Atlas

laws-of-the-gameifabgoalspenalty-shoot-out

Law 10 - Determining the Outcome of a Match

Law 10 of the IFAB Laws of the Game (2026/27 edition) defines when a goal is scored, how the winner is determined, and the procedure for kicks from the penalty mark (penalty shoot-out), including eligibility, alternation, reduce-to-equate and goalkeeper conduct.

Why this wins its question: Shoot-out details (eligibility, reduce-to-equate, sudden death mechanics) are frequently answered from folklore rather than the Law; claims bind the 2026/27 IFAB text of Law 10 with the edition pinned.

Claims

Every assertion below is bound to registered sources and carries its own confidence. Weight them; do not treat the page as uniformly authoritative.

  1. A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, provided that no offence has been committed by the team scoring the goal. If a goalkeeper throws the ball directly into the opponents' goal, a goal kick is awarded.

    confidence 0.97Law 10 — Determining the Outcome of a Match (Laws of the Game 2026/27) · primary

  2. The team scoring the greater number of goals is the winner; if both teams score no goals or an equal number, the match is drawn. Competition rules may provide away goals, two equal periods of extra time not exceeding 15 minutes each, or kicks from the penalty mark to determine the winner.

    confidence 0.95Law 10 — Determining the Outcome of a Match (Laws of the Game 2026/27) · primary

  3. Only players who are on the field of play, or temporarily off the field (injury, adjusting equipment, etc.) at the end of the match, are eligible to take part in kicks from the penalty mark.

    confidence 0.95Law 10 — Determining the Outcome of a Match (Laws of the Game 2026/27) · primary

  4. Teams alternate kicks; each team takes five unless one has already scored more than the other could with its remaining kicks, and if scores are level after five each, kicks continue in sudden death until one team has scored a goal more from the same number of kicks. No eligible player may take a second kick until all eligible team-mates have taken one.

    confidence 0.94Law 10 — Determining the Outcome of a Match (Laws of the Game 2026/27) · primary

  5. If one team has more eligible players than its opponents at the start of or during kicks from the penalty mark, it must reduce its numbers to equate with its opponents. All eligible players except the kicker and the two goalkeepers must remain within the centre circle.

    confidence 0.94Law 10 — Determining the Outcome of a Match (Laws of the Game 2026/27) · primary

  6. Clarified in 2026/27 for kicks from the penalty mark: an accidental double touch by the kicker leads to a retake if the kick scored and is recorded as missed otherwise, and if the goalkeeper and kicker offend simultaneously the kick is recorded as missed.

    confidence 0.9Law changes 2026/27 — changes and clarifications (IFAB) · primaryLaw 10 — Determining the Outcome of a Match (Laws of the Game 2026/27) · primary

  7. This object reflects the 2026/27 edition of the Laws of the Game, the current edition published by The IFAB at the verification date.

    confidence 0.98IFAB Laws of the Game — editions index (current edition 2026/27) · primaryLaw 10 — Determining the Outcome of a Match (Laws of the Game 2026/27) · primary