Soccer World Cup: What Is Extra Time and How Does It Work

Soccer World Cup: Extra time in the FIFA World Cup is used during knockout matches when teams are tied after 90 minutes. It consists of two 15-minute halves, and unlike past rules, there is no Golden Goal; the full 30 minutes are always played. If the score remains level, the match is decided by a penalty shootout. This format has produced some of football’s most thrilling moments, including the dramatic final featuring Lionel Messi.

FIFA World Cup 2026: How Winners Are Decided in the FIFA World Cup

In most major North American sports, there are victors, and there are scums. In soccer, there are draws. However, there will come a point in this summer's FIFA World Cup. When a winner needs to be crowned, and when that second comes, extra time will be played.

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Ever heard of overtime? The term in soccer is additional time, but it works very similarly. But what is additional time, and how does it work? When does it get applied at the World Cup? Here is all you need to know about the extra period at the FIFA World Cup. Once we get to the wow circles of the World Cup, connotation the win-or-go-home portion of the competition, we'll start to understand extra time in effect.

Football World Cup: The Rise and Fall of the Golden Goal Rule in World Cup History

If a match is tied after 90 minutes of regulation play, then we go into additional time. Extra time is 30 minutes, covering two 15-minute halves. No, sports can only go to extra time throughout the hit phase of the contest. which starts with the Round of 32. Extra time before the ongoing Round of 16, but it now starts earlier due to the contest's development from 32 to 48 teams.

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In the group stage, teams can play a draw if the score is tied. No, unlike ice hockey, there is no unexpected death in extra time for soccer. That means if a side scores at any point of the extra time, the match lasts until those 30 minutes are done. The World Cup did have a short-lived trial with a version of unexpected death, vocation it the Golden Goal.

Football World Cup: Penalty Shootouts Explained, Football’s Most Intense Decider

It was in effect for two versions, the 1998 World Cup in France and the 2002 World Cup co-hosted by Japan and South Korea, before being detached. During those two contests, four games finished with a game-winning Golden Goal. The first one happened in 1998 when the French defender Laurent Blanc scored in the 114th minute to help his team beat Paraguay in the Round of 16.

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France would finally go on to win its first-ever World Cup. The Golden Goal rule proved to be so contentious that we even called it one of our top-100 World Cup moments.  There were three examples of the Golden Goal at the World Cup, including Turkiye's quarterfinal win over Senegal, before the World Cup reverted to having a full extra-time retro.

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World Cup Tickets: Legendary Extra-Time Moments Featuring Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé

Correct! If both sides are still tied at the end of the 30-minute extra-time retro, the match will be decided in a penalty shootout. Penalties. Pens. PKs. Penales. Whatsoever you want to call it, a penalty shootout is one of sport's most nerve-wracking events. Both teams take alternative kicks from the consequence spot.

If, during the first five probabilities, no team has rehabilitated enough to win, then we go to unexpected death, and consequences are taken until somebody misses. Astonishingly, a lot of the finals have wanted extra time and even a disadvantage to decide the champ. That included the 2022 epic where Lionel Messi and Argentina deserved extra time and disadvantages to defeat Kylian Mbappé and France in what was questionably the best final ever.

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1. What is extra time in the FIFA World Cup?

Extra time is a 30-minute period, two 15-minute halves played when a knockout match is tied after 90 minutes to determine a winner.

2. When is extra time used during the World Cup?

Extra time is only used in knockout stages, starting from the Round of 32 or Round of 16 in earlier formats, not during the group stage.

3. Can matches end in a draw in the group stage?

Yes, during the group stage of the FIFA World Cup, matches can end in a draw, and no extra time is played.

4. What happens if the score is still tied after extra time?

If teams remain level after extra time, the match is decided by a penalty shootout.

5. What was the Golden Goal rule in World Cup history?

The Golden Goal rule ended the match immediately when a team scored during extra time. It was used in 1998 and 2002 before being removed.

6. Which venues will host FIFA World Cup 2026 matches?

Matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be played across multiple cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, offering world-class stadium experiences.

7. How can I guarantee my World Cup match tickets?

You can secure your seats through trusted platforms like eticketing.co, which provide reliable ticket options and availability updates.

8. Are tickets available for all teams in the FIFA World Cup 2026?

Yes, fans can explore a wide range of team tickets, including top national teams, on eticketing.co.

9. Can I buy group stage tickets from eticketing.co?

Yes, eticketing.co offers tickets for group stage matches as well as knockout rounds, subject to availability.

10. Why are penalty shootouts considered so exciting?

Penalty shootouts are intense because each kick can decide the match, creating high-pressure moments for players and unforgettable experiences for fans.