FIFA scrap major World Cup knockouts rule change as decision made

FIFA have performed a major u-turn after calling for a drastic rule change in the middle of the World Cup.

The 48-team tournament is now into the serious stage with the all-new round of 32 - which saw Canada become the first side through to the round of 16 after they beat South Africa with a last minute goal from Stephen Eustaquio in Los Angeles.

Brazil followed suit by coming from behind to beat Japan 2-1, with Arsenal star Gabriel Martinelli popping up with another last-gasp winner to prevent extra time in Houston

Prior to the round of 32 kicking off, reports emerged claiming that FIFA demanded a change of the rules when it comes to penalty shoot-outs.

The world governing body opened up a dialogue with IFAB (International Football Association Board) and called for a significant tweak around the coin tosses which take place before penalties.

They had asked for a single toss between captains which would see the winner have the option of taking the first penalty or choosing the end.

The loser would therefore be afforded second choice and the reason for making the change was to make it fairer and not hand one of the teams a potential double advantage.

FIFA scrap midway World Cup rule change as decision made

However, as per The Athletic it's emerged that discussions with IFAB ended up with the current approach being maintained.

According to Dale Johnson of the BBC, IFAB were initially open to running a trial for the single coin toss and that may happen in the future beyond the World Cup knockout stages.

It means that should any World Cup games go to penalties, there will be two coin tosses.

The first, a neutral toss with heads and tails for outcomes, will determine who gets to go first and then the second shall decide which end the penalties will be taken.

In the recent Champions League final, Arsenal lost both tosses to Paris Saint-Germain who defended their crown after Gabriel Magalhaes skied his decisive penalty over the bar at the Puskas Arena in Budapest.

Captains are responsible for the second coin toss which they call and in the pulsating 2022 World Cup final, Lionel Messi and Argentina scored the advantage as the penalties took place in front of their fans at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar.

France skipper Hugo Lloris won the second toss to allow the 2018 winners go first with spot-kicks.

But it was Argentina emerged victorious as Gonzalo Montiel kept his cool from 12 yards to give Argentina their third World Cup victory.