Penalty shootouts have long been football’s ultimate pressure test. 

After 120 minutes of play, years of preparation (and sometimes entire World Cup campaigns) can come down to a handful of kicks from 12 yards. 

Historical data show that some countries consistently perform better than others when the stakes are highest.

The visualization above, based on data gathered by GiveMeSports, sheds light on this matter. 

TL;DR

• Argentina has won more FIFA World Cup penalty shootouts than any other nation.
• Croatia has a perfect World Cup shootout record, having won all four shootouts it has played.
• Several football giants, including England, Spain and Italy, have struggled from the penalty spot despite their success elsewhere.

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Top 14 Teams With Most World Cup Penalty Shootout Wins

As you can see in the table above, Argentina sits at the top of the list with six victories from seven World Cup penalty shootouts, giving the South American side a success rate of nearly 86%. 

Those wins span more than three decades, from the 1990 tournament to their triumph in Qatar in 2022.

That longevity is what makes Argentina’s record stand out. 

Yet Argentina is not the only team that shines under pressure.

Croatia Stands Out, Too

Croatia has quietly built one of the most remarkable records in World Cup history. 

The European nation has taken part in four penalty shootouts and won every one.

Unlike Argentina, Croatia’s success has come in a much shorter period.

All four victories were recorded during the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, tournaments in which the Croatians made deep runs into the knockout stages. 

Rather than relying on dominant victories in open play, Croatia repeatedly found a way to survive football’s toughest decider.

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Countries With Least Wins

England, Spain and Italy have each participated in five World Cup penalty shootouts but have won only one. 

France has fared only slightly better, winning two of its five.

These figures challenge one of football’s common assumptions: that the sport’s most successful nations are automatically the best at penalties.

Instead, the data suggests World Cup shootouts have often exposed a weakness rather than reinforced dominance. 

Several of these countries have lifted the World Cup trophy, yet their records from the penalty spot remain surprisingly modest.

The Surprise with Brazil’s Record

Brazil’s numbers are also less dominant than many fans might expect. 

The five-time world champions have appeared in five World Cup shootouts but have won only three, leaving them with a 60% success rate. 

While respectable, it falls well behind Argentina, Croatia and Germany.

Another interesting pattern emerges further down the data table.

Morocco and Paraguay have both maintained perfect records, winning both of the World Cup penalty shootouts they have contested. 

Their sample sizes are much smaller, making direct comparisons difficult, but their records show that success under pressure is not limited to traditional football powers.

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ELI5

Sometimes World Cup matches are tied even after extra time, so they are decided by penalties. The data shows some countries are much better at handling that pressure than others. 

Argentina has won the most shootouts, Croatia has never lost one, while famous teams like England, Spain, and Italy have struggled more than many people would expect.

Source: 

GiveMeSport analysis of FIFA World Cup penalty shootout records.