Section 6: Scoring
Determining the Winner
The team that scores the most goals during a match wins. If the number of goals scored is equal, the match is a draw. When competition rules require a winner after a drawn match, the following procedures are permitted:
- Away goals rule: No longer used in FIFA and most major competitions as of 2021.
- Extra time: Two equal periods of 15 minutes each. Goals scored during extra time count toward the final score.
- Kicks from the penalty mark: If the score is still level after extra time (or after the match if no extra time is used), kicks from the penalty mark determine the winner. Each team takes five kicks alternately; if still tied, kicks continue in sudden-death fashion. All eligible players must take a kick before any player takes a second kick.
Competition Formats
FIFA competitions use various formats:
- Group stage: 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss
- Knockout stage: Extra time and penalty shootout if required
- Tiebreakers in groups: Points, goal difference, goals scored, head-to-head record, fair play points, drawing of lots
2026 FIFA World Cup — Expanded Format
The 2026 FIFA World Cup (hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico) expands from 32 to 48 teams for the first time. The new format features 12 groups of 4 teams each. The top 2 teams from each group plus the 8 best third-place teams advance to a new Round of 32, followed by Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final. The tournament will feature 104 total matches (up from 64), with the final scheduled for July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
VAR and Goal-Line Technology
Goal-line technology (GLT) is used in all major FIFA competitions and approved leagues to determine definitively whether the ball has wholly crossed the goal line. The system provides an instantaneous signal to the referee's watch within one second of a goal/no-goal situation. VAR supplements GLT by reviewing potential offside, fouls in the build-up, or handball incidents that may affect the validity of a goal.