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Rules

Corner Kick Rules

Complete guide to corner kick rules and techniques in football.

Quick Answer

A corner kick is awarded when the ball crosses the goal line (not resulting in a goal) after last touching a defending player. The ball is placed in the corner arc, and a goal can be scored directly. Players cannot be offside from a corner kick.

Corner Kick Setup
A corner kick is awarded when the ball crosses the goal line (not in the goal) and was last touched by a defending player.

Basic Rules


• Ball placed in the corner arc nearest to where it crossed
• Ball must be stationary
• Corner flag cannot be moved
• Opponents must be at least 9.15m from the corner arc
• The kicker cannot touch the ball again until another player has touched it

Can You Score Directly?

Yes! A goal can be scored directly from a corner kick, but only against the opposing team. An own goal cannot be scored directly from a corner (indirect free kick awarded).

Short Corners

Teams often use short corners where:
• The ball is passed to a nearby teammate
• Creates different attacking angles
• Can draw defenders out of position

Offside from Corner Kicks

You CANNOT be offside directly from a corner kick. This is because:
• Corner kicks are exempt from offside rules
• Like throw-ins and goal kicks

World Cup Corner Statistics

The 2022 World Cup saw an average of 10.4 corner kicks per match, with set-piece goals being crucial in many games.

Frequently Asked Questions