World Cup Penalties Rules: How Are Penalties Awarded And What Are The Rules?

A penalty kick is a pressure-packed one-on-one from the penalty spot — 12 yards from goal — where a cool head usually wins and a goal is highly likely.
Goalkeepers must face the kicker, stay between the posts and keep at least one foot on or over the goal line until the kick; leaving early can lead to a retake.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs June 11–July 19 across three countries, with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.