Geir Jordet, professor at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences and author of the book “Pressure: Lessons from the Psychology of the Penalty Shootout,” has characterized the psychological demands of World Cup penalty shootouts as reaching inhumane levels. In research spanning two decades, the only emotion that participants consistently report is anxiety, Jordet told The Associated Press. His analysis places the greatest burden on penalty takers, who face expectations to score in a moment that can define national fortunes.
Two of the first four round-of-32 matches at the current tournament were settled by shootouts, with Morocco overcoming the Netherlands and Paraguay defeating Germany, the AP reported on July 1. A record five games at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar went to penalties, including the final Argentina won against France, according to FIFA tallies. The format was introduced in 1970 and first decided a World Cup final in 1994, when Brazil beat Italy after Roberto Baggio sent his kick over the crossbar.
Jordet told The Associated Press by email that players who initiate their run-up almost immediately after the referee’s whistle miss more frequently than those who pause for two to five seconds. “We suspect this is because those who (wait) extremely short sometimes do so because they, understandably, just want to get this stressful situation done and over with,” Jordet said. A 2007 study he led, published in the Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, found that the perceived importance of each kick, as a marker of stress, correlated more strongly with outcomes than skill or fatigue.[[1]](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17127587/)
Goalkeepers counter with creative disruption tactics that can border on gamesmanship, sometimes drawing yellow cards, Jordet noted. Morocco’s Yassine Bounou illustrated this by staying upright during a key save against the Netherlands, using his reach to deflect a shot aimed at the upper corner. Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez has mastered such techniques, winning his last six shootouts including the 2022 final, while England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford observed that each keeper maintains distinct routines to unsettle opponents.
United States forward Christian Pulisic emphasized the courage demanded of those stepping up. “For the people that go up and shoot, it takes a lot of courage. It’s not easy,” Pulisic said. England winger Noni Madueke added that shootouts grow more prominent in knockout football, requiring teams to elevate preparation across every aspect of their game. In a recent Nature article, Jordet outlined how lessons from these duels apply to managing stress in wider performance contexts.[[2]](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-02043-0)
Coaches should determine shootout orders well in advance through a mix of analytics, experience and player confidence rather than soliciting volunteers under duress, Jordet advised. After five successful kicks apiece against Paraguay, Germany captain Joshua Kimmich asked teammates who would take the sixth, resulting in defender Jonathan Tah missing his first career penalty. Average success rates across World Cup penalties hover near 75 percent, with forwards converting at that exact mark according to compiled match data, though psychological factors often prove decisive.[[3]](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cd9px47g8jlo)
Jordet recommends that players rehearse a robust technique and stable pre-shot routine months ahead of potential shootouts. “Make sure that when you are called to take a kick, you have a strong and robust penalty technique, and you have a rehearsed and stable pre-shot routine that can help you lock your attention,” Jordet said. “With that type of focus, you have done what you can, and the outcome”
