The 2022 World Cup final game alone was watched by over 16.7 million views, with many more fans who witnessed history watching hours upon hours of the ever-popular sport. Many casual viewers notice the game clock frequently ticking past 90 minutes. With many factors contributing to game length, it’s easy to ask how long is a soccer game?
Let’s explain why games felt so long in this most recent tournament. Games have 90 minutes of regulation play, with two 45-minute halves and a 15-minute halftime. The average stoppage time lasted seven minutes per game, and extra time added 30 minutes, plus the five minutes between regulation and overtime. Then you have to account for the one minute of breaks and two minutes of stoppage time.
Things got even longer if extra time wasn’t enough. The break between extra time and penalty kicks added five minutes and the initial five stages of the penalty shootout contributed 15 more minutes. Finally, the sudden death stage of the shootout can add three minutes or more!
All told, the longest games can extend for three hours or more! But that’s in the World Cup. Here’s an exploration of how long soccer games last at various levels and age groups!
Adult leagues and professional soccer matches command the very best in physical performance. These games typically run the maximum length and exact every ounce of physical endurance. Here’s how various adult leagues operate game lengths.
The most prestigious soccer tournament in the world uses different formats for group play and the “Round of 16” tournament style. During the initial rounds of the group stage, games can end in ties but operate under the standard 90 minutes and two halves of 45 minutes with a 15-minute halftime. At the end of regulation time, referees add stoppage, and ranking takes place based on a point system.
Starting in the “Round of 16,” the competition rules change so that ties are no longer possible. Because of the single-game elimination style, it’s necessary to have extra time and penalty kicks that contribute to game length.
Teams that draw at the end of regulation and stoppage enter extra time, which consists of two 15-minute halves with no “Golden Goal” or sudden death, one-and-done conclusion. Instead, teams play the entire time, and if still tied, a five-round penalty kick occurs, where the team who scores the most goals wins.
Finally, if some crazy events lead to the teams still being even, a sudden death shootout happens. Then, players take turns taking shots at the opposing goal until someone scores. This can lead to World Cup games lasting three hours or longer!
Professional soccer games are under the International Football Association Board (IFAB) regulation. This governing body writes the “Laws of the Game” for international and U.S. play. They dictate how long soccer games last and cover both men’s and women’s leagues. Under IFAB rules, soccer matches last 90 minutes, with two 45-minute halves and a 15-minute break.
Like men’s professional soccer, IFAB governs women’s pro leagues. They use the same rules as male leagues, with 90 minutes of game time, two 45-minute halves, and a 15-minute halftime break. Referees also add additional time as needed.
The NCAA rules American college sports, and the governing body sets soccer rules to match other professional leagues. NCAA college games are also 90 minutes long, with the same 45-minute first half and 45-minute second half. The most significant difference is that companies use the end of each half and one two-minute block per half for advertisement opportunities during televised games.
NCAA games also differ in postseason structure in that teams that are even after regulation go to two 10-minute overtime periods. Should teams remain tied, a penalty shootout occurs to decide elimination. Women’s college soccer is slightly different in that they play a single 20-minute overtime period.
Where adult soccer seeks to extract the best in performance, youth soccer is more about learning the fundamentals and playing as a team. Outside the oldest age groups, youth soccer leagues play shorter games; as age groups change, the game lasts longer.
Soccer is extremely popular with even the smallest children. It is an excellent way to introduce them to the world of sports. However, starting at the elementary school level, games have more structure, and youth soccer leagues operate under some standard practices regarding the amount of time each age group plays.
Middle school-aged kids are developing quickly; they are faster, stronger, and have more endurance than their elementary school counterparts. They play longer games lasting an hour with two 30-minute halves and a five-minute halftime break. Sometimes games can last up to 70 minutes with two 35-minute halves and varying halftime intervals. Plus, tournaments can skew these times even further.
High school soccer is where many players develop a life-long love of the game and where many pros start taking their careers seriously. At this level, freshman, junior varsity, and club-level leagues usually play an 80-minute game with two 40-minute halves and a 10-minute halftime break.
Varsity games and Under-17 and Under-18 leagues operate with soccer rules that more closely reflect FIFA or IFAB standards. These games are the full 90 minutes with a 15-minute period of halftime and extra time added at the end of the game. Of course, tournaments, local leagues, districts, and states can have various rules regarding overtime and draw games.
With so many variations and specialized terms, it’s understandable to have some questions about how long soccer games can last. Here’s some clarification on various topics.
Soccer uses a running game clock, and several events throughout regulation contribute to “dead time,” or time when active play didn’t happen.
These events include when a team scores, goal celebrations, player substitutions, caring for injured players, injury time, Video Assistant Referee (VAR) analysis, foul cards, set pieces, and penalty kicks. As a result, referees need to compensate for that time with stoppage time.
Stoppage time gets added at the end of regulation playing time and can occasionally lead to extra time depending on how the score plays out and league rules.
Because of dead time, wasted time, or stoppage time—whatever you call it, games often last longer than the 90 minutes of regulation. Additionally, in leagues with extra time, tie games must play out periods of play that can extend upwards of 30 additional minutes of play.
The standard halftime break lasts 15 minutes in adult leagues and professional tournaments. For youth leagues, the halftime break is usually much shorter, with standard intervals lasting between five and ten minutes.
Soccer is a beautiful game, but with stoppage time, extra time, and penalty kicks, many people ask: how long is a soccer game? From professional games and World Cup tournaments that last three hours or longer to under-6 games that rarely extend past 30 minutes, soccer can last any amount of time!
Looking to get involved in a soccer league near you? TOCA Football has soccer leagues for adults and kids that get you active and connected with other players. Try a free kickoff today to see how our revolutionary facilities support quality leagues all around the country!
The 2022 World Cup final game alone was watched by over 16.7 million views, with many more fans who witnessed history watching hours upon hours of the ever-popular sport. Many casual viewers notice the game clock frequently ticking past 90 minutes. With many factors contributing to game length, it’s easy to ask how long is a soccer game?
Let’s explain why games felt so long in this most recent tournament. Games have 90 minutes of regulation play, with two 45-minute halves and a 15-minute halftime. The average stoppage time lasted seven minutes per game, and extra time added 30 minutes, plus the five minutes between regulation and overtime. Then you have to account for the one minute of breaks and two minutes of stoppage time.
Things got even longer if extra time wasn’t enough. The break between extra time and penalty kicks added five minutes and the initial five stages of the penalty shootout contributed 15 more minutes. Finally, the sudden death stage of the shootout can add three minutes or more!
All told, the longest games can extend for three hours or more! But that’s in the World Cup. Here’s an exploration of how long soccer games last at various levels and age groups!
Adult leagues and professional soccer matches command the very best in physical performance. These games typically run the maximum length and exact every ounce of physical endurance. Here’s how various adult leagues operate game lengths.
The most prestigious soccer tournament in the world uses different formats for group play and the “Round of 16” tournament style. During the initial rounds of the group stage, games can end in ties but operate under the standard 90 minutes and two halves of 45 minutes with a 15-minute halftime. At the end of regulation time, referees add stoppage, and ranking takes place based on a point system.
Starting in the “Round of 16,” the competition rules change so that ties are no longer possible. Because of the single-game elimination style, it’s necessary to have extra time and penalty kicks that contribute to game length.
Teams that draw at the end of regulation and stoppage enter extra time, which consists of two 15-minute halves with no “Golden Goal” or sudden death, one-and-done conclusion. Instead, teams play the entire time, and if still tied, a five-round penalty kick occurs, where the team who scores the most goals wins.
Finally, if some crazy events lead to the teams still being even, a sudden death shootout happens. Then, players take turns taking shots at the opposing goal until someone scores. This can lead to World Cup games lasting three hours or longer!
Professional soccer games are under the International Football Association Board (IFAB) regulation. This governing body writes the “Laws of the Game” for international and U.S. play. They dictate how long soccer games last and cover both men’s and women’s leagues. Under IFAB rules, soccer matches last 90 minutes, with two 45-minute halves and a 15-minute break.
Like men’s professional soccer, IFAB governs women’s pro leagues. They use the same rules as male leagues, with 90 minutes of game time, two 45-minute halves, and a 15-minute halftime break. Referees also add additional time as needed.
The NCAA rules American college sports, and the governing body sets soccer rules to match other professional leagues. NCAA college games are also 90 minutes long, with the same 45-minute first half and 45-minute second half. The most significant difference is that companies use the end of each half and one two-minute block per half for advertisement opportunities during televised games.
NCAA games also differ in postseason structure in that teams that are even after regulation go to two 10-minute overtime periods. Should teams remain tied, a penalty shootout occurs to decide elimination. Women’s college soccer is slightly different in that they play a single 20-minute overtime period.
Where adult soccer seeks to extract the best in performance, youth soccer is more about learning the fundamentals and playing as a team. Outside the oldest age groups, youth soccer leagues play shorter games; as age groups change, the game lasts longer.
Soccer is extremely popular with even the smallest children. It is an excellent way to introduce them to the world of sports. However, starting at the elementary school level, games have more structure, and youth soccer leagues operate under some standard practices regarding the amount of time each age group plays.
Middle school-aged kids are developing quickly; they are faster, stronger, and have more endurance than their elementary school counterparts. They play longer games lasting an hour with two 30-minute halves and a five-minute halftime break. Sometimes games can last up to 70 minutes with two 35-minute halves and varying halftime intervals. Plus, tournaments can skew these times even further.
High school soccer is where many players develop a life-long love of the game and where many pros start taking their careers seriously. At this level, freshman, junior varsity, and club-level leagues usually play an 80-minute game with two 40-minute halves and a 10-minute halftime break.
Varsity games and Under-17 and Under-18 leagues operate with soccer rules that more closely reflect FIFA or IFAB standards. These games are the full 90 minutes with a 15-minute period of halftime and extra time added at the end of the game. Of course, tournaments, local leagues, districts, and states can have various rules regarding overtime and draw games.
With so many variations and specialized terms, it’s understandable to have some questions about how long soccer games can last. Here’s some clarification on various topics.
Soccer uses a running game clock, and several events throughout regulation contribute to “dead time,” or time when active play didn’t happen.
These events include when a team scores, goal celebrations, player substitutions, caring for injured players, injury time, Video Assistant Referee (VAR) analysis, foul cards, set pieces, and penalty kicks. As a result, referees need to compensate for that time with stoppage time.
Stoppage time gets added at the end of regulation playing time and can occasionally lead to extra time depending on how the score plays out and league rules.
Because of dead time, wasted time, or stoppage time—whatever you call it, games often last longer than the 90 minutes of regulation. Additionally, in leagues with extra time, tie games must play out periods of play that can extend upwards of 30 additional minutes of play.
The standard halftime break lasts 15 minutes in adult leagues and professional tournaments. For youth leagues, the halftime break is usually much shorter, with standard intervals lasting between five and ten minutes.
Soccer is a beautiful game, but with stoppage time, extra time, and penalty kicks, many people ask: how long is a soccer game? From professional games and World Cup tournaments that last three hours or longer to under-6 games that rarely extend past 30 minutes, soccer can last any amount of time!
Looking to get involved in a soccer league near you? TOCA Football has soccer leagues for adults and kids that get you active and connected with other players. Try a free kickoff today to see how our revolutionary facilities support quality leagues all around the country!
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