Going first in a penalty shootout gives teams an advantage … or does it?

Recent World Cup data reveals an intriguing trend: teams that got to go second in penalty shootouts have won 13 out of the last 15 times. This has sparked debate about whether there's a hidden advantage for the team that kicks second, potentially due to psychological factors or improved focus after the first round. While the decision to go first or second seems inconsequential after 90 minutes of intense play, these findings suggest that the order in shootouts might matter more than we think, reshaping strategies in future matches.