Wondering how long a soccer game takes? Wonder no more – GOAL has everything you need to know
Like all field sports, soccer games have a set duration, as laid down in the Laws of the Game, but there are some variations and points worth noting, especially if you are new to the sport.
It differs significantly from American football in terms of how long games take and it also diverges from rugby union, basketball and hockey, to name a few.
Here, GOAL brings you all you need to know about how long a game of soccer is, plus an explanation on halftime, added time, extra time and more.
GettyHow long is a soccer game?
Generally speaking, the duration of a soccer game is 90 minutes, consisting of two equal halves lasting 45 minutes each. This is commonly referred to as 'regulation time'. With 45 minutes a half and few breaks in play, soccer is a true game of endurance and skill.
In each game of soccer, there is a halftime interval which usually lasts 15 minutes, but can occasionally be shorter at the discretion of the referee – shorter halftime intervals are more common at amateur level, where TV broadcasts are not a consideration.
It should be noted that the length of time a game continues for depends on the competition rules and the context of each game. So, for example, in some knockout tournaments, if the game is tied after regulation time, 'extra time' (see below) is played. This is a period of 30 minutes after regulation time that is split into two 15-minute halves.
If, for whatever reason, the game is interrupted, then the referee can add time – this is known as 'added time' or 'injury time' (see below). In some cases, referees have added up to 10 minutes of time at the end of games, meaning the actual duration of a match can sometimes be closer to 100 minutes.
In the event that the game remains tied after extra time, then penalty kicks are usually used to decide the winner. The duration of a penalty kickout varies and continues until a winner has been determined.
Taking into account all of the above to give you an example, if an ordinary league game (with no extra time) kicks off at 3pm, then, including halftime, it will be over at approximately 4:45pm – a duration of roughly one hour and 45 minutes.
If a knockout game begins at 3pm and is decided in extra time, it will be over at approximately 5:30pm. Got it?
AdvertisementGettyWhat is 'injury time'?
Referees are permitted to make an allowance for time lost during games by extending the duration of each half. This is known as 'added time', or 'injury time', as some commentators refer to it as.
This additional time is then relayed to the fourth official, who holds up a device to communicate to the players, coaches and spectators how much added time will be observed.
Per the Laws of the Game, the following are taken into consideration when gauging how much time must be made up:
substitutionsassessment and removal of injured playerswasting timedisciplinary sanctionsmedical stoppages permitted by competition rules, such as ‘drinks’ breaks (which should not exceed one minute) and ‘cooling’ breaks (90 seconds to three minutes)delays relating to VAR ‘checks’ and ‘reviews’goal celebrationsany other cause, including any significant delay to a restart (e.g. due to interference by an outside agent)
Around the time of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, FIFA took a decision to clamp down on time-wasting in games and referees were encouraged to add time at the end of games in a bid to ensure the maximum 'effective playing time'.
Following the 2023 Community Shield game between Arsenal and Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, which saw Gunners winger Leandro Trossard score an equaliser in the 11th minute of added time, Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta explained that his players were prepared for 100-minute matches.
"At the end, it's about effective time," Arteta said. “I think it's really good to do that, because it was going too far I think and now teams are going to have to think twice.
“Now we have to be prepared to play 100 minutes because it's going to happen every single week."
What is 'extra time'?
Extra time is the name for the period of play that follows the regulation 90 minutes in a game, usually a knockout tournament game.
Extra time typically lasts for a total of 30 minutes, with the action played in two equal halves of 15 minutes.
The halftime interval in extra time is much shorter than halftime in ordinary time, with players permitted only a brief break for water.
How long is the halftime break in soccer?
As noted, the halftime break in soccer takes place after the opening 45 minutes and teams are allowed up to 15 minutes to rest, rehydrate and receive instructions from their coaches.
The duration of halftime can vary from competition to competition, but there tends to be homogeneity among elite-level competitions. This is to ensure consistency at the highest level.
However, it would not be unusual for halftime to last only 10 minutes or less in an amateur game, for example in a Sunday league or youth match.
