Report: Blatter says FIFA may end World Cup ties by using shootout or sudden-death OT

Report: Blatter says ties may be scrapped at WCup

BERLIN — FIFA president Sepp Blatter says soccer’s governing body will consider eliminating ties in all World Cup games.

Blatter said Saturday on Germany’s Focus weekly that the dramatic change would make the tournament more interesting. He says the change could involve going to a shootout after 90 minutes of regulation or adding sudden-death overtime.

Sudden-death overtime was used in the knockout rounds of the 1998 and 2002 World Cups. FIFA then reverted to its previous rule of having teams play a full 30 minutes of overtime if tied at the end of regulation in the knockout rounds.

First-round games have always ended in draws if tied at the end of regulation.