How Long Do Soccer Games Last?
Soccer, also known as football, is an incredibly popular sport around the world, and one of the questions often asked by new fans is, “how long do soccer games last?”
Match Durations
A soccer match, or game, typically lasts 90 minutes, broken into two halves of 45 minutes each. This match duration can vary, based on the level and tournament type. At the professional level in most countries, the match time is usually 90 minutes. Some tournaments, including some for both professional and youth levels, will have “timed” matches, meaning the 90-minute limit is strictly enforced and the match will end at 90 minutes, regardless of what might be happening, or who scores a goal.
Halftime Intervals
The halftime break separates the two halves of the match and usually lasts for 15 minutes. Halftime usually occurs at the 45th minute of the match. For certain competitions, including some youth tournaments and friendlies at the professional level, the halftime period may be shortened or eliminated.
Injury Time & Extra Time
At the conclusion of the match, the referee will add extra time, also known as injury time or stoppage time, to make up for any A stoppages in play due to substitutions, injuries or other events. Generally, referees will add two to five minutes of stoppage time depending on the length of the stoppages, how long the substituted players take to leave the field, and how close the match is when the clock runs out. In some cases the referee may add significantly more time than five minutes.
In knockout competitions, the match may go into extra time which is two periods of 15 minutes. After the extra time period, the match may proceed to penalty kicks if the game is still tied.
Average Time for a Soccer Match
On average, a soccer game usually lasts around an hour and a half, which includes the:
- Pre-Match Preparations: 10-15 minutes
- Half-Time: 15 minutes
- Duration of the match: 45 minutes each half
- Extra time: 30 minutes (divided into two halves of 15 minutes each)
Given all this, the average time for a soccer game is usually from 1-hour up to 2hours and 30 minutes.
Conclusion
The duration of a soccer game may vary slightly from league to league, and country to country. In general, however, most soccer games usually last for around 1-2 hours and 30 minutes. Additionally, some tournaments and other competitions may break the traditional 90-minute match duration to either extend or shorten the match.
