How Long is a Soccer Game: Laws of the Game
How long is a soccer game? A regular professional soccer match is made up of two 45-minute halves, a 15-minute halftime break, and stoppage time. This means the usual length of a soccer game is 90 minutes.
Youth soccer games are usually shorter than adult soccer matches, and their length varies across age groups. A soccer game’s overall length, whether youth, professional,, or amateur, can vary due to factors such as stoppage time and extra time, though all matches follow the same format.
In this guide, I will explain everything you need to know about one of the most basic soccer rules of them all, the length of regulation time in soccer.
Standard Soccer Game Duration
A standard soccer match at the adult level lasts 105 minutes, with two 45-minute halves of gameplay and one 15-minute halftime break. At the end of each half, the referee may add stoppage time, also known as injury time, which is usually 1-10 minutes, to make up for lost time during the match.
So, although regulation time is 45 minutes, the halves will typically last a bit longer due to injury time. However, if there is little to no time wasted,, there may be little to no injury time added. The 15-minute halftime break is not only important for allowing players to rest and recover, but also for coaches and staff to make substitutions, strategize effectively, and change player positions, tactics, and formations if needed.
Each half sees players from opposing sides competing to score goals on their opponent’s goal while simultaneously defending their own, and the team with the most goals after regulation time wins the match. But what happens when two teams draw after the end of regulation time?
Extra Time and Penalty Shootouts
If two teams tie at the end of regulation time, two things can happen, depending on the type of match: a league or tournament/playoff game. If the tie occurs during a league game, the match will typically end in a draw, and both teams will get 1 point each in the league table.
If the tie occurs during tournament play, where there must be a clear winner, extra time followed by a penalty shootout comes into play. Extra time is different from stoppage time; it occurs after regulation time and lasts 30 minutes.
Extra time is split into two 15-minute halves, with no golden goal in effect, meaning that even if a team scores during the extra period, play will continue until both halves are finished. The purpose of adding these extra time periods is to allow both teams to secure the victory before resorting to a penalty shootout.
This means a penalty shootout occurs only if both teams are tied after 30 minutes of extra time, though some competitions may go straight to a shootout without extra time.
Stoppage Time Allowances
In soccer, stoppage time or injury time is extra time added to each half to compensate for any time lost during the match. This additional time ensures that both teams have an equal opportunity to play for the full 45 minutes.
Here are some factors that contribute to increased stoppage time.
- Substitutions: When players are substituted, leaving and entering the field can take up time
- Injured Players: If a player gets injured or even dives during a match, checking the player, treating them, and waiting for them to be okay also takes up time.
- Out-of-Bounds scenarios: During out-of-bounds scenarios such as throw-ins, goal kicks, and corner kicks, players can waste a lot of time, sometimes on purpose, which can lead to disciplinary actions
- Disciplinary Actions: When players commit fouls and offenses, the referees may have to show disciplinary actions, such as showing a yellow or red card, which can take up time, too, depending on the severity of the foul. Also, if there are a lot of free or penalty kicks during a game,, it can add up to a lot of wasted time.
- V.A.R. Checks: In professional soccer matches that have V.A.R, or video assistant referee, the use of this technology can also take up time
- Goal Celebrations: The minutes after a goal celebration can also count as time wasted
Length Variations for Different Types of Soccer Games
So far, we have been discussing the rules governing the length of professional soccer games; however, it is also important to discuss variations in length across different types of soccer.
Youth Soccer Games
The length of youth soccer games varies by age group and league, but they usually follow the following formats.
- Ages 6-8:
- For the youngest age groups, games are typically played in smaller formats, such as 4v4 or 5v5, and these matches usually last four quarters, each about eight to ten minutes, with two-minute breaks in between.
- Ages 9-11:
- As players progress into older age groups, the match durations increase as well. At the U10 and U12 level, players play 7v7 games with two twenty-five-minute halves and a halftime break of about 5-10 minutes.
- Ages 12-13:
- Once children reach their teenage years, they begin playing 9v9 games with two halves that are about 30-40 minutes each, depending on the league, and a 10-minute halftime break.
High School Soccer Games
The most noticeable difference in high school soccer matches is the duration of each half and the halftime break. High school matches usually last 90 minutes, with 2 45-minute halves and usually one 5-10-minute halftime break.
College Soccer Games
College Soccer games are long, just like at the professional level, and the matches will also feature two 45-minute halves with a 15-minute halftime break. Most college soccer games do not use injury time,, and the first half ends at the 45-minute mark, while the second half ends at the 90-minute mark.
Women’s Soccer Games
Women’s soccer games follow the same rules and guidelines as most men’s soccer matches, and the length of the match varies depending on age and playing level.
Summary
To summarize, a standard full-sized soccer game lasts 90 minutes, with two 45-minute halves and a 15-minute halftime break.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is a professional soccer game at the World Cup?
A World Cup soccer game is the same as a regular professional soccer game, 90 minutes long.
How long are professional American Football matches compared to professional soccer games?
American Football Matches typically last 3 hours. Almost double the time of a professional soccer game.
How can I begin improving my soccer skills right now?
To begin improving your soccer skills right now, check out our post on the best soccer training drills. If you are looking to accelerate your progress and want private training, check out Coach Daniel’s website and fill out the player interest form.
How can I learn more about the game?
To learn more about soccer, the most important thing is to join a team and play the game as much as possible. If possible, analyze high-level games as much as you can and your own games as well by recording them with a soccer camera. Also read soccer books, listen to podcasts and interviews, watch soccer documentaries, as well as some movies, TV shows, and anime.
