A corner kick is awarded when a defending player is the last to touch the ball before it goes out of play over their own goal line (not between the posts). The attacking team restarts play by kicking the ball from the nearest corner arc.
How It Works
The ball is placed inside the small quarter-circle arc at the corner of the pitch. The kicker can deliver the ball into the penalty area as a cross, play it short to a teammate, or attempt to score directly — though scoring direct from a corner is extremely rare and known as an 'Olympic goal' or 'gol olímpico.' Defenders must be at least 10 yards from the corner arc until the ball is played.
Inswinging vs Outswinging
Corners are usually delivered as crosses into the penalty area. An inswinging corner curves toward the goal (making it harder for the goalkeeper to catch), while an outswinging corner curves away (making it better for attackers to run onto and head). The choice depends on the kicker's foot, the team's attacking system, and the positions of players in the box.
Corners as Set Pieces
Corners are dangerous. Teams with tall, powerful headers of the ball can score regularly from well-rehearsed corner routines. At the top international level, roughly 10-15% of all goals come from corners or the immediate aftermath of a corner.
Corner kick delivery and set piece routines are a major part of World Cup preparation. Nations with aerial threats like England, Germany, and the USA will look to exploit corners regularly. VAR cannot be used to check whether a ball was touched by a defender before crossing the line — that decision remains with the assistant referee.
