First, a coin toss will determine which team shoots first. Teams will then alternate taking kicks from the penalty spot, in an A-B-A-B order. Each team gets five kicks. If at any point a team is guaranteed to finish with more successful kicks than their opponent, the shootout ends without taking the remaining kicks.

Three times, in 1994, 2006, and 2024, the Men's World Cup title has been decided by a penalty shoot-out. Of the 35 shoot-outs that have taken place in the competition, only two reached the sudden death stage after still being tied at the end of "best of five kicks".