Center backs keep taking World Cup penalties in shootouts — but they miss far more than any other position

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Colombia was eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup because a center back, Davinson Sanchez, hit his penalty kick off the bar.

Australia was eliminated because two center backs both missed their penalties.

Shoot, Switzerland made it tougher on itself in that same shootout with Colombia because their central defender, Manuel Akanji, didn't convert his penalty.

Yeah, there've been a lot of center backs taking penalty kicks in shootouts at this World Cup.

It's a strategy that pretty much gets a confused reaction from the announcers every time one of the big central defenders is walking toward the spot.

And the results, and longer-term data, back up the fact that it should be surprising.

The reality is that center backs aren't trustworthy penalty takers.

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Why do center backs keep taking penalties?

There must be a level of confidence exuded by these men in the huddles before shootouts. They're big and powerful. They're not going to back down from a challenge.

In many teams, they're also among the trusted leaders. Even if they aren't the captain, they're counted on to stand firm.

If their teammates shy away from the pressure of a penalty, center backs lean in.

The center back penalty problem

These guys aren't made to take penalties, though. There's a reason central defenders aren't called upon to take penalty kicks won during a match. They aren't playing in the middle of the defense because of their ball striking ability.

The numbers back this up:

Don't let CB's take penalties!

In the aftermath of Switzerland vs Colombia, I investigated the last three World Cups to see if the data backed up my hypothesis pic.twitter.com/wc8BHsBixz

— Romeo Scagliarini (@ItalianScallian) July 7, 2026

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The sample size isn't huge, but it's big enough to say teams should be at least shying away from this move.

With some personnel groups, it might still make sense.

Most of the time, though, a center back taking a penalty is an unnecessary risk early in a shootout.