On the second evening of knockout-stage action at the 2026 World Cup, penalty shootouts were required to settle two of the three fixtures.
Paraguay delivered the biggest upset, overcoming Germany 4-3 on penalties after the match finished 1-1 following extra time. Later that evening, Morocco and the Netherlands also remained level before Morocco prevailed 3-2 in the shootout.
In recent years, teams have increasingly introduced players near the end of extra time specifically so they can take a penalty if a shootout is needed.
However, recent Opta figures indicate that this tactic may be ineffective. Among the last ten players introduced after the 115th minute at either a World Cup or European Championship, eight stepped up in a shootout and failed to score.
In one of the first shootouts of the 2026 World Cup, Bournemouth attacker Justin Kluivert entered the match in the 113th minute and became one of three Netherlands players who could not convert from the penalty spot.
Paraguay’s own late-substitution strategy also backfired, although they still managed to secure the win. Former West Ham defender Fabian Balbuena was introduced in the 122nd minute and was one of two Paraguayan players who missed their penalties.
Germany, meanwhile, experienced contrasting results from substitutes in the shootout. Nick Woltemade was unsuccessful, while Nadiem Amiri and Jamal Musiala both converted their attempts.
England have enjoyed some positive results in recent tournaments after making late changes with a possible penalty shootout in mind.
In their Euro 2024 last-16 victory against Switzerland, former England manager Gareth Southgate introduced Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ivan Toney during the second period of extra time.
Both players converted important spot-kicks as England advanced and eventually reached the final, although each had entered the Switzerland match before the 115th minute.
Nevertheless, England have also suffered when relying on players brought on late to take penalties.
Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford were introduced late in the Euro 2020 final, but both subsequently failed to convert their penalties.
Jamie Carragher experienced a similar outcome as a late substitute in the 2006 World Cup quarter-final, missing his penalty as England lost to Portugal.
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