Μουντιάλ 2026: Οι χώρες που δεν έχουν χάσει ποτέ στη διαδικασία των πέναλτι

The World Cup 2026 has brought attention to a unique aspect of football history—teams that have never lost in penalty shootouts during their participation in the tournament. Penalty shootouts are among the most dramatic moments in football, often deciding the fate of teams under immense pressure. While some nations have faltered in these high-stakes situations, others have consistently emerged victorious. Excluding West Germany, which had three wins before reunification, ten countries have participated in at least one penalty shootout in a World Cup without ever suffering defeat.

Croatia leads this list with four victories in penalty shootouts across the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. In 2018, Croatia defeated Denmark in the Round of 16 and Russia in the quarterfinals, reaching the final. During the 2022 edition, they eliminated Japan and Brazil, with goalkeeper Dominik Livaković playing a crucial role by saving multiple penalties against Japan.

Paraguay also holds two successful penalty shootout victories in World Cup history. Their most recent win came in the Round of 32 against Germany, while their earlier victory was over Japan in the 2010 World Cup Round of 16.

Morocco has similarly managed two penalty shootout wins without loss. They defeated Spain in the 2022 World Cup and the Netherlands in the current edition, with Yassine Bounou being instrumental in both matches.

Belgium’s sole penalty shootout victory occurred in the 1986 quarterfinals when they beat Spain, becoming the first team in World Cup history to score all five of their penalties.

Bulgaria reached the semifinals in 1994 after defeating Mexico in the Round of 16 via penalties.

Sweden advanced to the semifinals in 1994 by overcoming Romania in a penalty shootout, despite missing their first kick.

South Korea made history in 2002 by eliminating Spain in the Round of 16 with perfect accuracy from all their penalties.

Ukraine secured a spot in the Round of 16 in 2006 by defeating Switzerland, even though their first penalty was missed.

Portugal's notable victory came in the 2006 Round of 16 when they defeated England, marking the end of England's so-called "golden generation."

Uruguay's memorable penalty shootout win in the 2010 semifinal against Ghana remains one of the most dramatic moments in World Cup history.

As the World Cup 2026 progresses, the knockout stages are heating up with several intriguing matchups. Brazil faces Japan in the Round of 32, where Japan has impressed many with their performance so far. Germany takes on Paraguay in Boston, aiming to secure a comfortable passage to the next round. Meanwhile, the Netherlands meets Morocco in Monterrey, Mexico, promising another intense encounter between two strong teams.

The schedule for today's matches includes Brazil versus Japan at 20:00, followed by Germany versus Paraguay at 23:30, and finally the Netherlands versus Morocco at 04:00. These matches will determine who advances further into the competition, adding more excitement and unpredictability to the ongoing tournament.

With each match, the narrative of the World Cup continues to evolve, showcasing the resilience and skill of teams as they battle for progression. The upcoming fixtures promise to deliver thrilling performances and potentially historic moments, keeping fans engaged throughout the competition. As the tournament unfolds, the focus remains on how teams handle pressure, especially in critical moments such as penalty shootouts, which can define their journey in the prestigious World Cup.