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It’s among the most gut-wrenching ways to exit a World Cup — every penalty shootout must have a loser, and some nations have endured that heartbreak more than once over the years.

Penalty shootouts were first introduced in the World Cup for matches tied after extra time in 1978, although the first one actually occurred in 1982.

Since then, more than 30 World Cup matches have been decided through shootouts. Here’s a look at the countries that have suffered the most defeats in this nerve-racking format.

1998 semi-final

2014 semi-final

2022 quarter-final

2026 round of 32

The Netherlands remain one of the most talented footballing nations yet to lift the World Cup trophy, and their poor record in penalty shootouts has contributed heavily to that misfortune.

In fact, the Dutch haven’t lost a World Cup match in normal time since the 2010 final. Since then, they’ve been knocked out on penalties in every tournament except 2018, when they didn’t qualify.

This year, misses from Justin Kluivert, Quinten Timber and Crysencio Summerville sealed their elimination in the round of 32 against Morocco after a 1-1 stalemate in regular time.

Previously, they were denied a place in the final after losing on penalties in the 1998 and 2014 semi-finals to Brazil and Argentina respectively.

In 2022, they once again fell to eventual champions Argentina on penalties in the quarter-final stage.

Perhaps, as the saying goes, those moments called for a bit more Dutch courage.

1986 quarter-final

2002 quarter-final

2018 round of 16

2022 round of 16

It might come as a surprise to see Spain so high on this list, but considering they’ve only won the World Cup once — in 2010 — it starts to make sense.

Spain have suffered penalty shootout eliminations in the quarter-finals of 1986 and 2002, and in the round of 16 in both 2018 and 2022.

In 1986, Belgium sent them home after Eloy missed from the spot. In 2002, after defeating the Republic of Ireland on penalties in the round of 16, they were eliminated by co-hosts South Korea following a miss by Joaquin.

In 2018, they again fell to a host nation, with Koke and Iago Aspas missing against Russia. Four years later, in 2022, they failed to convert a single penalty in a 3-0 shootout loss to Morocco.

1982 semi-final

2006 final

2022 final

France were the first nation ever to lose a World Cup penalty shootout, falling to West Germany in sudden death during the 1982 semi-final.

Even more painfully, they remain the only country to have lost multiple World Cup finals on penalties — first to Italy in 2006 and then to Argentina in 2022.

1990 semi-final

1994 final

1998 quarter-final

Italy’s three shootout defeats came in successive tournaments during the 1990s, beginning with the 1990 World Cup they hosted.

Argentina beat them in that semi-final, while Brazil triumphed the same way in the 1994 final. Roberto Baggio’s infamous miss in that match remains one of the World Cup’s most haunting moments. Italy’s third defeat came in 1998 when they were eliminated by hosts and eventual champions France.

Still, it’s arguably a better record than failing to qualify for three straight tournaments.

1990 semi-final

1998 round of 16

2006 quarter-final

Can you believe it’s been 20 years since England last lost a World Cup penalty shootout? Indeed, it has.

The long-standing curse was finally broken in 2018 when England won a World Cup penalty shootout for the first time in their history.

Before that, England endured heartbreak in the 1990 semi-final against West Germany following missed penalties by Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle; in the 1998 round of 16 against Argentina, when Paul Ince and David Batty failed to convert; and in the 2006 quarter-final versus Portugal, with Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher all missing their spot kicks.