What is a corner kick in soccer?
A corner kick is awarded to the attacking team when the ball goes out over the goal line after last touching a defender, and no goal is scored. It's taken from the corner arc nearest where the ball went out, and is a prime chance to score from a cross.
- 1A corner is awarded when the whole ball passes over the goal line, on the ground or in the air, having last touched a defender, with no goal scored[1]
- 2It is taken from within the corner arc nearest to where the ball crossed the line[1]
- 3A goal can be scored directly from a corner kick[1]
- 4The ball is in play once it is kicked and clearly moves[1]
A corner kick is one of soccer's best scoring chances from a dead ball.
When is a corner awarded?
When the ball crosses the goal line without going in and a defender touched it last, the attacking team gets a corner. If an attacker touched it last, it's a goal kick instead.
Where is it taken from?
From the small quarter-circle arc in the corner nearest where the ball went out. From there a player usually crosses it into the penalty area.
Can you score directly from a corner?
Yes — a corner can go straight into the net without anyone else touching it. More often, tall players crash the box to head or volley the cross toward goal.
A corner is a set-piece, much like a designed play after a stoppage: everything pauses, both teams set their positions, and the attacking side runs a rehearsed routine — tall players crashing the box — to try to score from the delivery.
Key Takeaways
- A corner is given to the attacking team when the ball goes out over the goal line off a defender.
- It's taken from the corner arc and is a prime chance to score from a cross.
- IFAB — Law 17: The Corner Kick(accessed 2026-06-01)
- IFAB — Law 9: The Ball In and Out of Play(accessed 2026-06-01)