The answer is twenty. Yes, a total of twenty penalties have been awarded during World Cup 2018 and we’re not even past the group stage yet.
The 1990 World Cup record for most penalties awarded has been already broken, while the 1998 record for most penalties converted (17) is well within range since 15 have already been converted this summer. Just to compare, a total of 13 penalties were given in Brazil four years ago. You think VAR makes a difference?
Of course, it does. That isn’t even debatable. What is up for debate is whether referees can be consistent while making their judgment calls and whether they can make those calls expediently enough not to slow the pace of a game down. Final conclusions will be made only after the World Cup is over.
Meanwhile, here’s a list of all the World Cup 2018 penalties so far.
June 15 – Portugal vs. Spain: 4’, Cristiano Ronaldo scored
June 16 – France vs. Australia: 58’ (VAR review), Antoine Griezmann scored
June 16 – France vs. Australia: 62’, Mile Jedinak scored
June 16 – Argentina vs. Iceland: 64’, Lionel Messi missed
June 16 – Peru vs. Denmark: 45+1’ (VAR review), Christian Cueva missed
June 16 – Croatia vs. Nigeria: 71’, Luka Modric scored
June 18 – Sweden vs. South Korea: 65’ (VAR review), Andras Granqvist scored
June 18 – Tunisia vs. England: 35’, Ferjani Sassi scored
June 19 – Japan vs. Colombia: 6’, Shinji Kagawa scored
June 19 – Russia vs. Egypt: 73’, Mohamed Salah scored
June 21 – Australia vs. Denmark: 38’ (VAR review), Mile Jedinak scored
June 22 – Iceland vs. Nigeria: 83’ (VAR review), Gylfi Sigurdsson missed
June 23 – Belgium vs. Tunisia: 6’ (VAR review), Eden Hazard scored
June 23 – Mexico vs. South Korea: 26’, Carlos Vela scored
June 24 – England vs. Panama: 22’, Harry Kane scored
June 24 – England vs. Panama: 45+1’, Harry Kane scored
June 25 – Saudi Arabia vs. Egypt: 41’, Fahad Al Muwallad missed
June 25 – Saudi Arabia vs. Egypt: 45+6’ (VAR review), Salman Al Faraj scored
June 25 – Portugal vs. Iran: 53’ (VAR review), Cristiano Ronaldo missed
June 25 – Portugal vs. Iran: 90+3’ (VAR review), Karim Ansarifard scored
As you can see, there have been only two days in the entire World Cup 2018 schedule where penalties haven’t been awarded (June 17 and June 20). In general, the amount of penalties, set-piece goals and own goals has been astonishing. The record for own goals (6) has already been tied as well. Out of 97 goals, 39 have been from free kicks or corner kicks, 15 have been penalties and 6 have been own goals. That means that nearly 2/3 of the goals have come from stoppage play. Hey, at least there hasn’t been a goalless draw yet, which by the way, is also a record (the longest a World Cup has gone without a 0-0 draw).
