FIFA sticks with coin toss rule before penalty shootouts

Background: Double advantage in the 2022 World Cup final and Champions League final

This happened, for example, in the 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and Croatia, when one team lost both strategic advantages to their opponents. The same pattern repeated itself in the most recent Champions League final between Arsenal and PSG, as the report indicates. In both cases, the affected teams had the misfortune of making the choice perceived as disadvantageous on both tosses.

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) is the body responsible for changes to the laws of the game in world football. An adjustment to the coin toss rule would therefore have to be decided at IFAB level, not directly by FIFA. The fact that FIFA is now publicly stating that no change will be made can be understood as a signal that the world governing body does not see any short-term need for regulatory action.

Role of IFAB in rule changes

Critics of the current regulation argue that the outcome of a coin toss carries disproportionate weight at a decisive moment in a match. Supporters point out that chance has always been part of sport and that a rule change could create new injustices. A broader debate within the football world is therefore still pending.

What is clear is that for the upcoming international tournaments, including possible knockout rounds in UEFA competitions, the existing rules remain in force unchanged. Coaches and teams must continue to prepare for the existing procedure. However, according to sources close to the association, a renewed review by IFAB cannot be ruled out.

Reactions and outlook

FIFA itself has so far not commented in detail on the reasons that speak against an adjustment. Nor has a timeline for a possible review been communicated. It therefore remains open whether the issue will be placed back on the agenda at one of IFAB's next meetings.

The news initially spread via the dpa news channel and was picked up by several media outlets, including Austrian portals such as OE24. The confirmation by FIFA itself gives the report additional weight, even though the source situation remains modest with four article references.