The most pressure-packed scoring opportunity in soccer might be the one where no one is defending: the penalty kick. A goal is almost certain, so long as you keep a cool head and beat the goalkeeper. Simple enough, right? But what exactly is a penalty kick, and how is it awarded? Here's everything you need to know about the penalty kick ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup: What Is A Penalty Kick? A penalty kick — or "PK" — is a one-on-one duel between a field player and a goalkeeper in which the field player tries to score a direct kick from the penalty spot. How Is A Penalty Kick Awarded? A pena...
HALO NEWSLETTER
Join HALO today and unlock this story instantly — It's Free