What happens in case of a tie in the round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup?

The 2026 World Cup has officially entered the knockout stage, and that changes the game - literally. In the group stage, teams could settle for a draw. But in the Round of 32, there are no second chances and no shared points.

No draws in the Round of 32

Once the tournament reaches the knockout stage, every game must produce a winner. That means if two teams are level at the end of regulation, the game doesn’t end. It moves on to extra time, and if needed, penalties.

Step 1: Extra time (30 minutes)

If a Round of 32 match is tied after 90 minutes (plus stoppage time), it goes to extra time.

Extra time consists of:

• Two 15-minute halves
• A short break between periods
• Additional stoppage time added at the end of each half

Unlike older formats, there is no “golden goal”. Teams play the full 30 minutes regardless of whether someone scores early.

Step 2: Penalty shootout

If the score is still tied after extra time, the match is decided by a penalty shootout.

How a penalty shootout works:

• Each team takes five penalties, alternating kicks
• A coin toss determines which team shoots first
• The team with more goals after five rounds wins

If the score is still tied after five kicks each, the shootout goes to sudden death:

• Each team takes one kick per round
• If one scores and the other misses, the game ends immediately

With the expanded 48-team format and the introduction of the Round of 32, there are now more knockout games than ever, and more chances for matches to go the distance.

Historically, some of the most dramatic World Cup moments have come in these situations, from last-minute equalizers to nerve-wracking penalty shootouts. And with many evenly matched teams advancing out of the group stage, extra time and penalties are expected to play a major role in deciding who moves on.

The rules in the Round of 32 are the same ones used all the way through the final, so every knockout game will follow this exact format. One missed penalty or one defensive lapse can end a team’s World Cup run instantly.

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