A penalty kick — or just a penalty — is about as tense as soccer gets. One player. One goalkeeper. Twelve yards of open goal. A single kick that can decide a match.
When a Penalty Is Awarded
A penalty is given when a foul that would normally result in a direct free kick is committed by a defending player inside their own penalty area. This includes handling the ball intentionally, tripping an attacker, or any other direct free kick offense. The penalty area is the large rectangle in front of each goal — you will see it clearly marked on any pitch.
How It Is Taken
The ball is placed on the penalty spot, which sits 12 yards (approximately 11 meters) in front of the center of the goal. All players except the taker and the goalkeeper must remain outside the penalty area and the penalty arc until the ball is kicked. The goalkeeper must stay on the goal line and cannot move forward until the kick is taken. From that distance, a well-struck penalty gives the goalkeeper almost no chance — conversion rates at the top level are around 75-80%.
Penalty Shootouts
When a knockout match is level after extra time, the result is decided by a penalty shootout. Each team takes five penalties alternately, with different players taking each kick. If still level after five each, the shootout moves to sudden death — one kick per team, first to miss while the opponent scores loses. Shootouts are notoriously stressful and are often decided as much by psychology as by technique.
The 2026 World Cup knockout rounds will see penalties used to settle tied games after extra time. The Final at MetLife Stadium on July 19 could come down to a shootout. Major nations spend significant training time on penalty preparation — the psychological element is as important as the physical.
