Soccer Corner Kick Rules: When You Get One and How It Works

A soccer corner kick is a way to restart play near the attacking team’s opponent’s goal. The most familiar situation is simple: a defender last touches the ball before the whole ball crosses the goal line, and no goal is scored. The attacking team then takes a kick from the nearby corner area. But modern rules also contain less familiar reasons for awarding a corner.

When is a corner kick awarded in soccer?

Under The IFAB’s Law 17, the standard decision depends on the last touch, the entire ball crossing the goal line and the absence of a goal. A defender can touch the ball deliberately, block a cross with a boot, or accidentally deflect a shot out of play: if that player is the last to touch it before it completely crosses their own goal line, the attacking team ordinarily gets a corner.

If an attacker touches it last and it crosses the defending team’s goal line without a goal, the restart is usually a goal kick instead. If the ball stays partly above the goal line, it remains in play—where the ball touches the grass is not the complete test.

Two additional corner-kick situations

The current law also awards a corner in specified time-wasting situations: when a goalkeeper controls the ball with their hands or arms for more than eight seconds, and when a team fails to take a goal kick within a referee’s signaled five-second countdown for delay. These are distinct from the everyday last-touch decision. Competition rules and refereeing protocols determine how the countdown is applied.

Where must you place the ball?

The ball goes inside the corner area nearest the relevant goal-line exit (or in the corner area designated by the rule for certain goalkeeper offences). Players are permitted to position it so that part of the ball overhangs the corner arc; the entire ball does not need to fit fully inside the white paint. It must be stationary when kicked.

The corner flag stays in place. Opposing players must stand at least 10 yards (9.15 metres) from the corner arc until the ball is in play. That separation protects the taker from an immediate block before the restart.

How does the corner kick restart play?

The attacking player kicks the stationary ball and it clearly moves. At that instant, the ball is in play. It does not have to roll outside the corner area first, so a short corner can begin with a subtle touch.

After taking the corner, the player may not touch the ball again before it touches another player. An ordinary second touch gives the opponents an indirect free kick. The usual game rules then apply to challenges, deliberate handball and fouls after play resumes.

Can you score directly from a corner kick?

Yes. A corner that curls directly into the opposition’s goal counts, even if nobody else touches the ball. This is sometimes called an Olympic goal or gol olímpico. The goal still depends on the ball crossing the line entirely and no infringement invalidating the play.

By contrast, if a taker somehow kicks the ball straight into their own goal without another touch, the opponents are awarded a corner kick rather than an own goal from that restart.

Is a player offside from a corner?

No offside offence can be committed by directly receiving the ball from a corner kick. This exception applies to the restart itself; it is not a blanket permission for every later pass in the attack. After a second teammate plays the ball, offside is judged normally based on player position and involvement at that later touch.

For the separate positioning rule and what triggers an actual infringement, consult The IFAB’s Law 11.

Common corner-kick tactics explained

In-swinging and out-swinging crosses

An in-swinger bends toward the goalkeeper and goal, making the delivery threatening but often crowded. An out-swinger curls away from goal, potentially giving runners better space to meet a header or volley. The choice depends on which side of the field the ball is on, the kicker’s preferred foot and the intended target—not a universally superior technique.

Near-post, far-post and short corners

A near-post delivery targets the closer part of the goalmouth and can be flicked on by a teammate. A far-post delivery looks for players attacking space beyond the goalkeeper. A short corner passes to a teammate closer to the flag to change the crossing angle or draw defenders out. Each option comes with a trade-off: longer deliveries challenge aerial defenders, while short corners risk allowing the opposition to press the ball.

For beginners, the most useful habit is to watch the movement just before the kick. Attackers create space through timed runs; defenders track their opponents and protect the six-yard area. One player taking the kick does not mean that player created the chance alone.

Corner kick vs. goal kick: a quick comparison

• Defender last touched the ball over their own goal line: ordinarily a corner for the attackers.
• Attacker last touched the ball over the opposing goal line: ordinarily a goal kick for the defenders.
• The ball crossed a touchline rather than a goal line: ordinarily a throw-in, not a corner.
• A goalkeeper or goal-kick delay offence specified in the laws: may result in a corner even without a shot going out.

Frequently asked questions

How far away must defenders stand at a corner kick?

At least 10 yards (9.15 metres) from the corner arc until the ball is in play, according to Law 17.

Does a corner count as a shot on target?

Not automatically. A corner kick is a restart; statistical providers can classify the subsequent play differently. A direct corner goal is a goal, but simply taking a corner does not mean an on-target shot has occurred.

Can the goalkeeper take a corner kick?

Yes. Any eligible player on the attacking team can take it, including the goalkeeper, although teams rarely use their goalkeeper so far from their own goal during ordinary match play.

Can you touch the ball twice on a corner kick?

No, not before another player touches it. A routine second touch is punished by an indirect free kick, with additional consequences possible for specific offences.

The key rule to remember

For most viewers, the easiest memory aid is this: defender touches it last over the goal line = attacking corner; attacker touches it last = defending goal kick. Then remember the placement, ten-yard distance and direct-goal possibilities. For rule changes and referee interpretations, use the official IFAB laws rather than an outdated social-media explainer.

Browse our Sports coverage for related stories. Fans who came to the sport through TV can also explore our Ted Lasso season guide; it covers entertainment, not match regulations.