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Some of the world’s leading darts players have shared with FourFourTwo their insights that could help footballers facing penalty shoot-out pressure during the World Cup.

Every World Cup brings its share of high-pressure penalty shoot-outs, always packed with drama, tension, and nerves for both players and fans.

In the 2026 World Cup, there have already been two such moments in the round of 32 — Paraguay stunned Germany in a thrilling shoot-out, and Morocco overcame the Netherlands on penalties.

For many footballers, coping with the immense anxiety of stepping up to take a penalty doesn’t come naturally. To help with that, some top professional darts players have shared their advice on managing pressure in those decisive moments.

Darts professionals are no strangers to the tension that comes from having to deliver pinpoint accuracy when everything is on the line.

Some of the game’s best spoke to FourFourTwo about how they handle those nerve-racking, high-stakes situations.

Gian van Veen explained, “It’s difficult, especially over the last couple of years I’ve struggled with that, but now I try to focus on the bigger picture. Of course, in the moment it feels hugely important, but I always remind myself—what happens if you lose this match? Not much.”

He added, “Life goes on, so that’s how I look at it. I try to downplay it a bit and focus on the broader perspective.”

Former world No.1 Luke Humphries shared a similar approach. “In any sport, during those crunch moments, your heart rate goes up, you feel a bit tingly, so the key is to stay composed. Don’t let your thoughts run away and start turning negative,” he said.

He continued, “Control your breathing to prevent your heart from racing, and manage those nerves as best you can.”

Stephen Bunting compared it to going for a major finish in darts. “For us, hitting a big finish is quite similar. You need immense composure, take your time, breathe deeply, focus on your aim, and make sure your throw lands exactly where it needs to,” he said.

Finally, Josh Rock offered a simple but effective tip: “Take a deep breath, compose yourself, and relax your body. And, of course, believe it’s going in — just like scoring a goal.”

While it may never be as easy as it sounds, taking a penalty with the world watching is often more about mental strength than technical skill — something darts players know better than most.