Olympic Soccer Showdown: Extra Time Duration and Shootout Scenarios Explained

Once the knockout rounds begin matches can’t end in a tie. Here’s how a winner is decided if things are tied up.

PARIS, France — In the high-stakes knockout rounds of Olympic soccer, matches cannot end in a tie as they can during the group stage. If the match is still tied at the end of regular time, additional measures are taken to determine the winner.

Initially, the game proceeds to 30 minutes of extra time, divided into two 15-minute halves. This extension aims to provide an opportunity for one team to score without resorting to a penalty shootout prematurely.

The tournament has already seen intense penalty shootouts, including two in the women’s quarterfinal and one in the men’s.

A standard soccer game consists of two 45-minute halves. If the match is tied after the 90 minutes, extra time is implemented.

During extra time, teams play two 15-minute halves. Notably, the “Golden Goal” or “sudden death” rule is not applied. Teams switch ends after the first half of extra time, with a brief break in between.

If the score remains tied after extra time, both teams proceed to a penalty shootout. Each team takes five penalty kicks, and the team with the most successful kicks wins.

If the teams are still tied after the initial five rounds, the game proceeds to sudden-death penalty kicks, continuing until a winner is determined.

Recent penalty shootouts at the Paris Olympics have been thrilling. The Canadian women’s team lost to Germany in a shootout, falling 4-2 in the quarterfinals. World champion Spain executed a stunning comeback to beat Colombia, also winning 4-2 in their shootout. Egypt reached the men’s semifinals by defeating Paraguay 5-4, thanks to goalkeeper Hamza Alaa’s crucial save.