Overview
- FIFA requested on Tuesday that the International Football Association Board consider collapsing the two pre‑shootout coin tosses into a single toss for penalty shootouts at the 2026 World Cup.
- Under the proposal the winning captain would choose either to take the first kick or to pick the end, and the losing captain would take the remaining option.
- IFAB must decide before the start of the round of 32 for the rule to apply in this tournament, giving the law‑making body only days to accept or reject the change.
- FIFA frames the change as a fairness fix to stop one team gaining both advantages, a concern highlighted by Arsenal losing both tosses in the recent Champions League final.
- Introducing a mid‑tournament law change would be highly unusual and could set a governance precedent, affecting how quickly future rule amendments can be rolled out during competitions.