If you are new to soccer, or “football,” as most of the world outside of the United States calls the sport, then you’re probably asking yourself, “How long is a soccer game?” Well, it all depends on whether you are into a professional match, younger age groups, lower league divisions, or even a small tournament. Each of these goes into understanding the flow and drama of the sport, from the World Cup final down to the local high school match.
How long are soccer games: Standard Duration
The basic setup of soccer is straightforward and universal: according to FIFA, the international governing body of the sport, a soccer match features two 45-minute halves, amounting to 90 minutes of playing time. In between the two halves, there is a 15-minute break; this is called half-time. This had remained so since 1866, when London and Sheffield agreed to play for 90 minutes in one of the earliest recorded matches.
Unlike most American sports, where the game clock stops during breaks in play, the clock in soccer keeps running. In other words, the timer does not stop for fouls, substitutions, and injuries. Instead, the referee adds minutes to the end of each half to make up for lost time. This period is called “stoppage time.”
What is Stoppage Time?
Stoppage Time is based upon the number of stoppages within the match, which includes player substitutions, injuries/medical treatment, fouls, especially yellow card cases or red, goal celebrations, wasting time during free kicks or throw-ins, and Video Assistant Referee (VAR) reviews. Stoppage time usually ranges from 1 to 5 minutes at the end of each half in a typical match. Extra time, however, can often reach far longer than that, such as when serious injuries occur or there are many checks by VAR. It is unpredictability in the length of a soccer game that further makes it exciting. During the 2022 FIFA World Cup, these games often saw over 10 minutes of added time.
Extra Time?
Those few knockout tournaments that require a winner have a match that is level after 90 minutes of play; it then moves into “extra time.” This consists of two 15-minute halves, taking the total possible playing time to 120 minutes. If there is still no winner by the end of extra time, the match proceeds with penalties to determine a winner.
These periods of extra time entail a load of drama, and as soccer enthusiasts will testify, some of the most thrilling moments in the sport occur in extra time or due to a penalty shootout. For example, a thrilling penalty shootout decided the 2008 UEFA Champions League final between Manchester United and Chelsea.
How Long is a Soccer Game at Different Levels
By now, we’ve talked a lot about professional soccer, but how long is a soccer game at different levels of competition? Let’s break it down.
Youth Soccer: The younger age brackets start with shorter playing times to match stamina and attention. For instance, U8 players may only play 20 minutes per half, while older youth leagues increase the time as the players grow older. By the time they are U18, most are playing full 90-minute matches, which is standard in the pros.
How long is a High School Soccer Game: In the U.S., high school soccer games generally are 80 minutes in length, divided into two 40-minute halves. Though this is considerably shorter than professional matches, many of the same rules apply. For example, a half-time break and stoppage time can be added at the referee’s discretion. You may wonder how long a high school soccer game is. Generally speaking, each high school soccer game is just a little less than two hours, including stoppage time and breaks.
College Soccer: Most collegiate soccer within the United States follows the same format as found in professional soccer. The colleges play 90-minute matches where the team that has scored the most goals at the end is declared the winner. Some college competitions have included sudden-death overtime, a feature unique in the United States, which means the first team to score during extra time is declared the winner.
Amateur and Recreational Leagues: Most amateur soccer games for adults are the same length as professional games, with 90 minutes of playing time plus stoppage time. For weekend leagues or purely recreational matches, however, the rules may be relaxed, especially if field time is at a premium. Some leagues, especially those who have to fit in tight schedules, will play even shorter matches, such as 60-minute games with two halves of 30 minutes each.
How Long Is a Professional Soccer Game?
The common question of many who ask, “How long is a professional soccer game?” is always answered by mentioning that a professional soccer match will last for 90 minutes with stoppage time and extra time if needed. Major leagues worldwide are the EPL, Spain’s La Liga, and the U.S. with its MLS. This is also an international standard when teams play against each other in the FIFA World Cup.
In major events, like the UEFA Champions League or World Cup, the stakes are incredibly high, and games can extend well beyond two hours due to extra time and penalties. For example, the 2006 World Cup final between Italy and France lasted 120 minutes before Italy won in a penalty shootout.
Why Does Soccer Have Such Consistent Timing?
The timing rules of soccer date back to the early years of FIFA in the 20th century. Whether these “early” rules were tied to tradition or maybe just a way out of having an inconveniently long time, the fact that the clock runs does make soccer different from most American sports, such as football and basketball, where frequently the clock is stopped. This tradition makes soccer games predictable, as concerns length, which is perfect for fans planning their day around a match.
As soccer developed worldwide, consistency in the rules applied by FIFA ensured the sport’s stability on the continents. Whether it’s an English Premier League match or a third-division league in Brazil, one can count on soccer moving to a familiar rhythm.
In short, “how long is a soccer game?” Soccer is played into two halves, each running for 45 minutes, amounting to 90 minutes with stoppage time added to the end of each half. Professional and amateur games worldwide maintain this structure, while shorter versions are allowed for youth and high school games. Extra time of 30 minutes is played where necessary, followed by a penalty shootout if that fails to break a tie.
Be it professional, amateur, or street soccer, its timing is pretty consistent so that fans would be assured of enjoying their beautiful game within a pretty predictable time frame. Since its humblest beginnings to this current worldwide attraction, the timeless structure of soccer has remained just the same, and because of this the sport can be considered the most accessible yet thrilling to follow.
