Are England Actually The Worst At World Cup Penalty Shootouts?

By Jim Tomlin

Apr 24th, 2026 10:26 AM EDT

The World Cup winner has been decided on penalties three times. (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

The penalty shootout to settle football matches is old hat by now. The 2026 World Cup marks 44 years since the tournament’s first penalty shootout in 1982.

England fans have reason to lament their form in that tense match settler, even after winning their most recent one in 2018.

As the biggest event of 2026 for UK betting sites gets nearer, Bookies.com looked at the history of World Cup penalty shootouts to see who is the best and worst at the format. This data does not count penalties during games, just the ones used to break stalemates after 120 minutes.

We dove in depth for each squad that has had at least two World Cup penalty shootouts; that’s 15 national teams in all. Football betting on this summer’s World Cup in North America, especially futures wagers, might well hinge on a method that few people love. But fans of any age or nationality must admit that it’s dramatic.

England Not Alone In World Cup Shootout Agony

England has that one shootout victory, 4-3 against Colombia in the round of 16 at the 2018 World Cup. That most recent shootout experience for England came after a 1-1 draw after extra time.

That came on the heels of three World Cup exits in the most excruciating fashion, but the Three Lions are hardly alone in that regard. Italy and the Netherlands are also 1-3 in shootouts.

The most futile shoutout record belongs to Spain, who are 1-4 in shootouts in the World Cup, including round-of-16 eliminations in the past two tournaments.

Even in 2002, when they ousted Ireland by shootout in the round of 16, the Spaniards didn’t get to enjoy it long. They lost the quarter-final to co-hosts South Korea on penalties.

Spain will hope to have better luck in shootouts, or maybe avoid them, for 2026. At bet365, Luis de la Fuente’s squad are the 9/2 favourites.

Three nations have endured multiple shootouts without winning one: Mexico, Romania and Japan. There’s an argument to be made that Mexico is even worse than Spain (more on that later).

So, yes, England fans of a certain age may have legitimate nightmares about three shootout eliminations in the 1990s and 2000s. Gen Z will only have that warm glow of 2018 as personal experience.

But are the Three Lions the worst? Our data says no, not quite. See our England Manager Era Index for insight about where current boss Thomas Tuchel compares to some of his predecessors.

Best Nations At World Cup Shootouts

Germany (which includes West Germany up to 1994) have won all four of their World Cup penalty shootouts, including the first-ever one in the most dramatic of semi-finals against France in 1982.

Would it surprise you to learn that Germany are not alone at the top? Croatia are also 4-0 in shootouts, winning back-to-back rounds that way in both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Croatia have two goalkeepers who tied the record with three saves in one shootout.

Those are the only countries with perfect records in shootouts with a minimum of two. But neither can boast the most times advancing via shootout. That’s Argentina, who are 6-1 including victory over France in the 2022 World Cup final.

Who Are the Best And Worst At Converting?

For the 2026 World Cup, Germany are seventh favourites at most betting apps, including at BetMGM UK, where they can be backed at 14/1.

As we covered, Germany have never lost a World Cup shootout. If it seems they never even miss a kick, that perception is almost correct.

The Germans are 17-of-18 all-time in kick attempts for a 94% conversion rate, by far the best of any nation. Die Mannschaft have converted 15 consecutive penalties. Their only miss was by Uli Stielike in that 1982 sudden-death semi-final win over France, a fact that might win you a pint in a pub quiz in the future.

Amazingly, that 1982 semi is one of only two shootouts have gone into sudden-death. The other was in 1994, when Sweden ousted Romania in the round of 16.

The only other country better than 80% in converting penalties is Costa Rica, who have converted eight of their 10 attempts in back-to-back-shootouts at the 2014 tournament (a win over Greece and a loss to the Netherlands).

The country with the worst conversion rate is Mexico, having gone 2-of-7 in losing two World Cup shootouts. Spain and England are both below 60% in larger sample sizes, but, again, Mexico have a solid argument for the nation with the worst penalty luck. Can El Tri break through in 2026 as a co-host? World Cup betting sites have Mexico at about even money to win Group A.

Our research did not include teams with only one shootout. But that group produced one small-sample anomaly. Switzerland, who missed all three of their penalties in a round of 16 loss to Ukraine in 2006, are the only nation to participate in a shootout and never find the target.

Individual Players Who Shine In Shootouts

A trio of legends can claim to have attempted penalties in three World Cup shootouts. They are:

• Roberto Baggio (Italy): 1990 semi-final (goal), 1994 final (miss) and 1998 quarter-final (goal)
• Lionel Messi (Argentina): 2014 semi-final (goal), 2022 vs Netherlands (goal) and 2022 final (goal)
• Luca Modric (Croatia): 2018 round of 16 (goal), 2018 quarter-finals (goal), 2022 quarter-finals (goal)

Many others have been in two shootouts, often for a nation that had two in the same tournament.

A 48-team field for 2026 also means a World Cup will have a round of 32 for the first time. That, of course, doubles the chances that a knockout round will need penalties to decide a winner.

The best UK betting apps have England among the top tips to take the World Cup trophy this summer. Don’t be surprised if the ride is full of drama, including the heart-in-mouth moments that penalty shootouts bring.

About the Author

Jim Tomlin

More About Jim

Veteran writer and editor Jim Tomlin has more than 20 years of experience in sports journalism, covering IndyCar, NASCAR, football, soccer.

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