Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterThere is nothing else in football like a World Cup penalty shootout. It's the ultimate all-or-nothing showdown betwixt outfielder and goalkeeper. Score or don't. In or out. Winner stays on.The penalty shootout is a test of technique, mentality and preparation. It might not be a perfect tie-breaker but it's the fairest we have and its drama is unmatched. Teams that go beyond the group stage at the World Cup had better be ready even if they never truly can.World Cup 2026 has already ruthlessly eliminated teams through shootouts, fancied teams included, but who's left in the competition and what are their penalty shootout records?Play our free match predictor and win �1kWhich remaining World Cup 2026 team has the best penalty shootout record?Two of the first four matches in the new round of 32 were settled on penalties.Paraguay took their World Cup record to two shootout wins from two by beating Germany 16 years after knocking out Japan. Hours later, Morocco defeated the Netherlands they're also two for two at the World Cup. You may like World Cup 2026 penalty shootouts: Every nation's record from the spot Why are Germany so good at penalties? How to watch World Cup 2026: FREE live streams, groups, next matches Swipe to scroll horizontallyTeamShootoutsWonLostWin PercentageBelgium110100.00%Australia54180.00%Argentina1913668.42%United States96366.67%Bosnia and Herzegovina32166.67%DR Congo64266.67%Portugal85362.50%Croatia74357.14%Paraguay95455.56%Morocco95455.56%Mexico137653.85%Spain158753.33%Brazil158753.33%France105550.00%Sweden21150.00%Senegal84450.00%Colombia105550.00%Egypt136746.15%Ivory Coast115645.45%Algeria94544.44%England114736.36%Canada72528.57%Ghana72528.57%Switzerland61516.67%Ecuador2020.00%Cape Verde1010.00%Austria000-Norway000-Of the teams still standing at the World Cup, Belgium have the best win percentage thanks to victory in their only shootout. It's a small sample size but it was at the World Cup, against Spain, in 1986.Australia and Argentina have won a lower percentage of their shootouts but have participated in many more. Argentina have won six out of seven at the World Cup including two shootouts (the quarter-final and final) at the last World Cup.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Switzerland have a dreadful record from the spot but only two of the remaining teams have lost every penalty shootout they've been involved in. Good luck, Ecuador and Cape Verde!In the World Cup, France are carrying the millstone of two shootout defeats in the final and Spain have lost four out of five. In their four World Cup attempts, England have beaten only Colombia in 2018.Croatia have been involved in four penalty shootouts at the World Cup and have won all four of them. We've crunched the numbers and it turns out that's good.Penalty shootouts are not lotteries. There's too much skill required and too many variables that are, ultimately, controlled by the two players involved.Being reliable in such pressurised moments is a different skill to being able to stick the ball away at a purely mechanical level.Doing it at the World Cup is as difficult as it gets and we've already seen this summer how the moment can break down the abilities of even the best players around.TOPICSWorld CupWorld Cup 2026Chris NeeChris is a Warwickshire-based freelance football writer specialising in West Midlands football, the Premier League, the EFL and the J.League. He is the author of the High Protein Beef Paste football newsletter and owner of Aston Villa Review. He supports Coventry Sphinx.
