The Associated Press reported that Geir Jordet, a professor at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, described the pressure in World Cup penalty shootouts as reaching “inhumane” levels, with nearly all of it concentrated on the takers. Jordet, who authored the book “Pressure: Lessons from the Psychology of the Penalty Shootout,” stated that in his research the only emotion everyone agrees is present is anxiety. He has examined every penalty shootout in the World Cup, European Championships and Champions League since 1976.
Expect more such shootouts in the knockout rounds of the 2026 tournament, which has already witnessed several in the round of 32 including Morocco’s defeat of the Netherlands and Paraguay’s victory over Germany. The 2022 World Cup in Qatar set a record with five penalty shootouts, one of which decided the final between Argentina and France. This trend underscores the increasing role of shootouts in determining outcomes at the tournament’s later stages.
England winger Noni Madueke noted that penalties become more prominent in knockout football and that his team strives to perform at the highest level in them. United States forward Christian Pulisic emphasized that it takes guts and courage to take a penalty, adding that goalkeepers improve annually with examples like Yassine Bounou’s save against Crysencio Summerville by staying upright. England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford pointed to such goalkeeper creativity in putting off kickers.
Jordet told The Associated Press by email that the penalty taker faces the greatest pressure since he is expected to score every time. Data from his studies show that players rushing toward the ball right after the referee’s whistle miss more frequently than those waiting two to five seconds. He recommended that players maintain a strong and robust penalty technique along with a rehearsed pre-shot routine to help lock their attention.
Goalkeepers employ various tactics during shootouts, ranging from mind games such as delaying the restart by bouncing the ball to attempting verbal or physical distractions, sometimes resulting in yellow cards. Takers utilize different approaches including immediate kicks, pauses of several seconds or stutter-step runs. These elements add to the psychological battle between the two participants.
One of the most famous misses came from Roberto Baggio in the 1994 World Cup final, where his penalty sailed over the bar as Brazil defeated Italy. The event has been analyzed in Jordet’s extensive research on the topic. Such moments illustrate the lasting impact a single kick can have on a player’s career and a nation’s sporting memory.
