We are used to thinking that a standard soccer match is played for one and a half hours. The 90-minute time limit is established by paragraph 7 of the Rules of the game. The rules are set by the International Football Association Board and are the same for both men’s and women’s teams. However, this is not always true. It happens that teams may agree on conditions other than the usual established laws before the start of a match. Also, given the large number of different types and forms of soccer and football, their length can also vary greatly.
If you are planning to visit the stadium and enjoy football, set aside a few hours for this event. The end of regular time does not always mean the end of the game. Time added to the regular 90 minutes of football game significantly increases the length of the game. So how long is a football match?
Duration of a football: regular and extra time, penalties, breaks and stoppages
The length of a match is determined by many factors. However, the main points can be highlighted:
- Regular time. The game consists of two halves, each for 45 minutes. The end of each half in football is announced by the head referee of the match. He signals the finish with a whistle. He also determines the moment when the part ends, taking into account the total playing time and added minutes (if any) due to injuries, substitutions or other delays. Typically, in most cases, after 45 min of regular time, the referee adds a certain amount of time, which depends on the circumstances that occurred during the competition. Therefore, the final decision is always made by the head referee. He also decides when the game should finish. Thus, the total regular term is approximately 90 min.
- Half-time. There is a 15-minute pause between the first and second halves. Such a pause in football is important and necessary, as it increases the quality and dynamism of the game. It gives players the opportunity to rest a little, recuperate and prepare for the second part of the game, as playing football requires significant physical effort. Players can drink water or sports drinks to maintain hydration and energy levels throughout the match. In addition, during the break, coaches can discuss tactics with the team, make changes to the strategy. This essential rest can also be used to replace players, if necessary. If any players are injured or feel discomfort, the coaching staff can carry out the necessary medical procedures during the break. Also, between halves, coaches and players can analyze the game, identify the team’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as the opponent’s actions.
- Extra time. In the event of a draw in knockout games (for example, in knockout stages of tournaments such as the World Cup or the UEFA Cup), extra time may be called. It consists of two halves of 15 minutes each.
- Stoppages. The referee may add time to the regular one (called “compensation time”) due to stoppages in play, such as injuries, substitutions, or time spent on VAR. The additional time is calculated by the referee and added to the last minutes of each part. Stoppage time should also be taken into account, although it is not applied to the overall match duration.
In addition, if the regular and extra time do not reveal a winner, a penalty shootout is held. The length of the penalty shootout depends on several factors:
- Number of kicks. Usually, there are 5 kicks from each team in a penalty shootout. If one team scores more goals than the other, the shootout ends early.
- Time for kicks. Each shooter is usually given a few seconds (usually about 30 seconds) to take their kick. However, this time may vary depending on the referee’s decisions and the situation on the field.
- If after the five kicks both teams score the same number of goals, the shootout continues until one team wins by taking additional kicks. This could be longer if many kicks are successful or if the teams change shooters.
In general, the length of the entire penalty shootout may vary, but on average it is from 5 to 15 minutes, depending on the number of kicks taken and the time spent on them.
The longest penalty shootout lasted 38 minutes! The record belongs to teams from the fifth division of the Czech Republic “Batov-1930” and “Fryshtak”. In 2016, the 52nd shot of Frištak midfielder Jan Hrebačka was the last – his team won with a score of 22:21.
Thus, when answering the question of how long a football match lasts, all of the above factors should be taken into account. Often, especially when it comes to Premier League matches, FIFA or UEFA championships, the duration of a game can significantly exceed the usual 90 minutes.
Length of a football match depending on the type of game
In addition to the standard matches played by teams of 11 players, there are other variations of the game. The number of players affects both the size of the field and the duration of the game.
- 9-a-side football. These matches are usually played on smaller pitches. The duration is also 80 minutes (40 minutes per half).
- 7-a-side football. In such games the total duration can be 60-70 minutes.
- 6-a-side football can last 40-50 minutes.
- 5-a-side football is often played for 30-40 minutes.
In addition to the classic soccer game, we can also consider other types of football and their duration.
- Futsal football matches last 40 minutes, divided into two halves of 20 minutes each, with a stoppage in play that may be due to injury time or other issues. There is a break between halves, which usually lasts 10 minutes. If necessary, there may be extra time, consisting of two halves of 5 minutes. Futsal also has a rule according to which, if there are a certain number of fouls, the opposing team is entitled to a penalty kick from the 10-meter mark.
- The standard length of an American football is 60 minutes, divided into four quarters of 15 minutes each. However, the actual playing time is significantly longer due to various stoppages, breaks, and other factors. The halftime between the 1st and 2nd quarters and between the 3d and 4th quarters is usually about 2 minutes. The halftime (between the second and third quarters) is 12 minutes in the NFL (National Football League). If a match ends 0-0 in playoff games or finals, overtime may be played to determine the winner. In overtime, the team to score a point wins if it occurs during the first attack. As a result, although the regulation length of an American football game is 60 minutes, the total time, including all stoppages and breaks, can be 2-3 times longer, and the average NFL game is usually around 3 hours long.
- A rugby match is 80 minutes. The game is divided into two halves of 40 minutes each. The half-time break is usually 10 minutes long. In addition, time may be added to the regular time due to interruptions in play, such as injuries or fouls.
The longest football matches in history
Sometimes circumstances can make a football game last much longer than usual. Among the longest football matches in history, several significant events stand out:
- The match between Italy and Brazil ended scoreless after regulation time and extra time, but lasted 120 minutes and went to penalties, ultimately resulting in the longest game in a final up to that point.
- The match between Italy and Australia in the 1/8 finals of the 2006 World Cup also lasted more than 90 minutes, as after a goalless draw in regular time there was extra time (30 minutes), but it did not go to penalties.
- The 1994 World Cup quarter-final match between Italy and Spain was also remembered for the extra 30 minutes that extended the match time duration.
- England and Iran play longest match in World Cup history. The game took place in November 2022 in Qatar, at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha. In total, the teams spent 117 minutes and 16 seconds on the field. Due to the injury of the Iranian goalkeeper at the beginning of the match, lengthy medical treatment and subsequent substitution, 14 minutes were added to the 1st half, and then another 10 minutes to the second. This does not include extra time. What is more, the end of the game was also delayed due to video review and the Iranian team taking a penalty. As a result, the English defeated the Iranians with a score of 6:2.
- The previous record for a World Cup match was set between South Korea and Bolivia in 1994, when they played for 103 minutes and 56 seconds. This also does not include extra time. Then the game ended with a score of 0-0.
- The longest game in American football was played between Miami and Tennessee at Hard Rock Stadium. just imagine, it was stopped twice due to bad weather. It took 7 hours and 8 minutes to play.
