Dailysports News Football news Statistics don't lie! Revealed: which teams win more often in World Cup penalty shootouts

Statistics don't lie! Revealed: which teams win more often in World Cup penalty shootouts

Sometimes the pressure is just too much

Football news Today, 10:20

Álvaro Hernández Dailysports's expert

Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

An analytical portal has crunched the numbers on World Cup penalty shootouts and come to a fascinating conclusion.

Details: The analytics portal Opta conducted a study and calculated what it takes to boost your chances of emerging victorious in a World Cup penalty shootout.

13 of the last 15 shootouts at men’s World Cups that have been won by the team going second (86.7%).

All four at the 2026 World Cup have followed that trend.

Is 'going first' not quite the tactic it used to be? ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/d4HGvVq76R
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) July 11, 2026

13 out of the last 15 World Cup penalty shootouts (86.7%) have been won by the team taking the second kick. Every single one of the four shootouts at the 2026 World Cup has fit this trend.

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