The penalty shootout: from its 1982 debut to Baggio's 1994 miss
The first shootout in World Cup history was played in 1982 (West Germany-France). Since then, three finals have been settled from the spot.
For half a century, World Cups knew nothing of penalty shootouts. The first in a finals came in the 1982 semi-final: West Germany and France drew 3-3 after extra time in Seville, and the Germans won 5-4 from the spot. One of football's cruellest and most fascinating endings was born.
Since then, the penalty lottery has even decided finals. The first was in 1994: Brazil and Italy played out a goalless 120 minutes at the Rose Bowl, and everything came down to the shootout. Roberto Baggio, Italy's great star, blazed his over the bar and Brazil claimed their fourth title.
The 2006 final also went to penalties: Italy beat France 5-3 — Trezeguet missed — to win their fourth World Cup. And in 2022, Argentina beat France (4-2) after an epic 3-3, with Emiliano Martínez the hero and Gonzalo Montiel scoring the title-winning penalty.
Only three finals have been settled this way (1994, 2006 and 2022), and curiously France lost both of theirs. In 2026, with knockouts from the round of 32, the shootout again lurks for teams in every round.
An eleven-metre coin toss that crowns some and haunts others forever: there is no more nerve-shredding way to end a World Cup match.
Source: Wikipedia (List of FIFA World Cup penalty shoot-outs; 1994, 2006 and 2022 finals).