World Cup extra time rules: How long and how it works when teams are tied

Feargal Brennan

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World Cup extra time rules: How long and how it works when teams are tied image

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When the World Cup heads into the knockout stage, each game will mean an exit for the losing side, as the race for glory heats up.

The prospect of extra time and spot kicks is nerve-shredding for fans and fascinating for neutrals, with glory and misery regularly decided by penalty heroes and villains.

Here's what to know about how extra time works in the World Cup.

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Extra time rules at the FIFA World Cup 

FIFA World Cup rules on extra time are very clear in relation to all knockout stage matches.

For games at the Round of 16, quarterfinal, semifinal, third place play-off and final stage, extra time will be played in the event of a tie after 90 minutes of regular action.

Regular action refers to normal game, including all stoppages and added time included within the match, and extra time will only begin once the referee has blown the final whistle.

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How long is extra time?

Extra time at a World Cup is set at 30 minutes, divided into two 15 minutes periods, with a short break in between.

Time can also be added to both periods, in the same fashion as in normal time, with the referee and assistant officials adding on time for substitutions, injuries and delays.

FIFA have instructed all officials to be particularly vigilant in adding on time in Qatar with games regularly featuring more than 10 minutes after the 90 minute mark.

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Are extra time goals sudden death?

Goals in extra time are no longer "sudden death" in World Cup action with a team who concedes in extra time still have the chance to equalise or win the match before the end of the extra 30 minutes.

FIFA/UEFA briefly experimented with making the first goal scored in World Cup extra time serving as a "golden/sudden death goal", which immediately ended the match, with the scoring team declared as the winners.

The rule was utilised in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, with four "golden goals" scored, however its most famous use came in the Euro 2000 final.

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Sylvain Wiltord's late goal sent France's final clash with Italy into extra time, before David Trezeguet's golden goal snatched the title for Les Bleus.

What happens after extra time?

If a World Cup knockout game remains tied after 120 minutes of combined normal and extra time it will move onto a penalty shootout.

Each team are permitted five penalties with the winners decided by the team scoring the most spot kicks.

If the penalty shootout is still level after five penalties each, the shootout will go to sudden death, with a miss followed by a successful spot kick confirming the winners.

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