Soccer matches have a standardized duration, unlike some sports. A common question is how long is soccer game? By the official laws (IFAB Laws of the Game), a typical match consists of two 45-minute halves – 90 minutes of regulation play. This rule applies across all levels of adult soccer (men’s and women’s, professional or amateur). However, the real elapsed time of a match is longer because of halftime and added “stoppage time”. In practice, a full game often takes about 105 minutes on the clock: 90 minutes of play + a 15-minute halftime.
Soccer matches are played in two 45-minute halves. After the first half, teams rest during a break (up to 15 minutes). The referee then starts the second half. Importantly, the match clock never stops for out-of-play moments – it only pauses at halftime. At the end of 90 minutes, the referee still adds any needed stoppage time before blowing the final whistle. If you include halftime and the extra time signaled by the referee, a match typically lasts around 105 minutes from kickoff to final whistle.
In short, an official soccer game is 90 minutes long by rule, but you should plan for a slightly longer viewing time. Below we explain each time component (stoppage time, extra time, etc.) and how game length can vary by competition level and age group.
Regulation Time: Standard Match Duration
By law, all adult soccer games are 90 minutes of play. This consists of:
- Two 45-minute halves: Regulation play totals 90 minutes.
- Halftime break: Up to 15 minutes between halves.
- Running clock: The game clock runs continuously, unlike in sports with stop-clock rules.
For example, Major League Soccer (MLS), the English Premier League, the FIFA World Cup, and Olympic soccer all use this 90-minute format. As the Soccer Blade site notes, the “bare minimum” real-time length of a game is 90 minutes of play + a 15-minute half = 105 minutes. The referee is the only one who can end each half, blowing the whistle after regulation play and any added time.
Key takeaways about regulation time:
- Regulation Duration: 90 minutes (2 × 45-minute halves).
- Halftime: Usually 15 minutes. After the first 45 minutes, teams have up to 15 minutes to rest.
- Match Clock: The clock doesn’t stop for injuries, substitutions, or ball out of play; it only pauses at halftime.
This means that when you hear “full time” (FT) at the end of a match, it refers to the end of those two halves (plus stoppage time).
Stoppage Time (Added Time)
Because the clock keeps running, referees add extra minutes at the end of each half to compensate for delays. This is called stoppage time (or added time). The Laws of the Game explicitly allow referees to make allowance for time lost due to various events. Common reasons for stoppage time include:
- Injuries: Time taken to treat or remove an injured player.
- Substitutions: Each time a player change is made.
- Time-wasting: Delays from teams trying to run down the clock.
- Disciplinary sanctions: Yellow/red cards and the setups for those.
- Goal celebrations: Extended celebrations after a goal.
- VAR or reviews: Video Assistant Referee stoppages for reviews.
After 45 minutes of a half, the fourth official displays (and the referee may add) a certain number of minutes that will be played as stoppage time. In practice, a referee often adds 2–5 minutes per half in typical games. Sports Illustrated notes that “stoppage time typically ranges from one to three minutes” per half in average matches, though it can be longer if many delays occurred. In extreme cases (major injuries or many substitutions), stoppage time can reach 10 minutes or more. For example, injury time in a busy match may extend a half by 4–6 minutes.
The fourth official’s board at the end of each half tells players and fans the minimum added time, but the referee can always extend beyond that if needed (they cannot shorten time that has been announced). Only when the referee is satisfied that the indicated stoppage time has been played will they end the half.
Example: If 3 minutes of stoppage are indicated, play continues for at least those 3 minutes. If, during those 3 minutes, another delay occurs (like a substitution), the referee may extend time further. In this way, stoppage time ensures that the actual playing time is close to the full 45 minutes per half.
Extra Time and Penalty Shootouts
In league matches and friendlies, if teams are tied after 90 minutes + stoppage, the game ends in a draw. But in knockout competitions (where a winner must advance), extra time is used. Extra time consists of two 15-minute halves (30 minutes total). For instance, if a World Cup round-of-16 match is tied after 90 minutes, the teams play an additional 30 minutes (with a brief 1-minute break between the 15-minute periods). After extra time, if the score is still tied, the outcome is decided by a penalty shootout.
Important points about extra time and penalties:
- Extra Time: 30 minutes (2 × 15-minute periods). This is only used in knockout games or finals.
- Break in Extra Time: A short break (often 1 minute) between the two extra-time halves (sometimes called a “drink break”).
- Stoppage in Extra Time: Referees can also add added time at the end of each extra-time half if there were delays.
- Penalties: If still level after extra time, teams take alternating penalty kicks to decide the winner.
For example, as Soccer Blade notes, Olympic soccer matches follow this rule: Olympic games are 90 minutes regulation, and in elimination rounds a tie leads to two 15-minute overtime periods. Similarly, FIFA World Cup knockout games use 30 minutes of extra time and then penalties if needed. A match with extra time can thus last up to about 120 minutes of play plus stoppage. (In very rare historical cases, games once continued with even more extra time until a goal – but modern rules cap extra time at 30 minutes followed by penalties.)
Halftime and Breaks
Between the two halves of regulation time, teams have a halftime interval. The standard halftime is 15 minutes. Teams leave the field to rest and regroup. After 15 minutes (or sooner, if play resumes early), the second half begins. In extra time (when used), there is a very short break (about 1 minute) between the two 15-minute halves – not nearly as long as the main halftime.
Unlike sports with commercial breaks, soccer has no TV timeouts. Most televised matches run continuously, with halftime as the only significant break. This makes soccer scheduling more predictable; broadcasters do not extend games, and viewers generally know it will be about 2 hours from kickoff (90 + halftime + stoppage).
Match Duration by Level and Competition
Different leagues and age groups can have shorter (or, in playoffs, longer) games. Here’s how match length varies:
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Youth Soccer (Kids and Teens)
Young players have shorter games. In the U.S., youth soccer durations depend on age. For example:
- Under-6 (U6): 4 quarters × 6 minutes = 24 minutes total.
- Under-9 & U10: 2 halves × 25 minutes = 50 minutes total.
- Under-11 & U12: 2 halves × 30 minutes = 60 minutes.
- Under-13 & U14: 2 halves × 35 minutes = 70 minutes.
- Under-15 & U16: 2 halves × 40 minutes = 80 minutes.
- Under-17 and older: 2 halves × 45 minutes = 90 minutes.
For example, games for 13-year-olds (U13) are typically 70 minutes (two 35-minute halves). By mid- to late-teen, youth games reach the full 90 minutes. These shorter durations help match the players’ endurance and skill levels. (Some local leagues may also play by quarters at younger ages.) Middle school soccer games (approx. ages 12–14) often total around 60–70 minutes of play.
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High School Soccer
In U.S. high school soccer (ages ~14–18), match lengths are determined by state high school associations (NFHS guidelines). Most high schools use 80-minute games: two 40-minute halves. Half-time is usually shorter (about 10 minutes). Some states allow four quarters of 20 minutes each, or have other variations. Championship matches might adopt the full 90-minute format with extra time, but a typical high school game is about 80 minutes of play.
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College (NCAA) Soccer
NCAA college matches use the same basic timing as pro games. A college game is 90 minutes total (two 45-minute halves). Halftime is 15 minutes. NCAA can (and often do) use overtime in tournaments, but regulation play remains 90 minutes. BrightLink Prep notes: “A college soccer game runs 90 minutes from start to finish, the same as an official match. A half-time break is observed at the 45-min mark, which lasts for 15 minutes”. Overtime (when used) adds additional time beyond the initial 90, but that is for deciding winners in league or tournament play.
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Professional Soccer (MLS, Premier League, etc.)
All professional leagues worldwide use 90 minutes (2×45) as regulation time. For instance, an MLS game is “90 minutes, divided into two 45-minute halves with a 15-minute break”. The English Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, and other top leagues are the same (the referee may also allow cooling breaks in very hot conditions, but total playtime remains 90). Stoppage time is added just as in any other match. If fans ask “how long is a pro soccer game?”, the answer is essentially the same as any adult match: 90 minutes of play (plus stoppage).
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MLS Specifics
Major League Soccer follows FIFA rules exactly. A regular-season MLS game is 90 minutes. MLS playoff and cup matches may go to extra time and penalties if tied. In practice, including stoppages, most MLS matches last around 105 minutes of running clock plus halftime.
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International and Tournament Soccer (World Cup, Olympics)
FIFA and Olympic soccer also use 90-minute matches. In the Olympics, as noted above, elimination games tied at full time go to 2×15 min overtime. The FIFA World Cup (men’s and women’s) also uses 90 minutes of regulation, then extra time and penalties in knockout rounds. Notably, both men’s and women’s international matches have identical timing.
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Women’s Soccer
Women’s professional and international games are played under the same rules: 90 minutes regulation. For example, Olympic women’s soccer and the FIFA Women’s World Cup use two 45-minute halves and extra time rules identical to the men’s tournaments.
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A “Typical” Match
Putting it all together, a typical professional or international match runs about 90–105 minutes including regulation, added time, and halftime. If extra time is required, it can extend to around 120–125 minutes of play (plus shootouts). The infographic above shows the breakdown of durations by age and level.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q: How long is soccer game?
A: A standard soccer match has 90 minutes of play time (two 45-minute halves). With a halftime break (~15 min) and any added stoppage time, the total elapsed time is about 105 minutes for a full game. If the game is tied and in a knockout competition, an additional 30 minutes of extra time may be played.
Q: How long is a professional soccer game?
A: Professional games follow the same 90-minute rule as any adult match. For example, Major League Soccer and European league games are 90 minutes plus stoppage time. The referee may also stop for VAR or injuries, but there are no formal game clock stoppages. So a pro match is 90 minutes of play (about 105 minutes real time).
Q: How long is a college soccer game?
A: NCAA college matches are 90 minutes long (two 45-minute halves). College halftime is 15 minutes. If tied in a playoff, college rules add sudden-victory overtime, but regulation remains 90 minutes.
Q: How long is a high school soccer game?
A: In U.S. high school, most games are 80 minutes of play (two 40-minute halves) with a shorter halftime (often ~10 min). Some states may divide it into quarters or have other formats, but two 40-minute halves is common. Only championship matches sometimes switch to the full 90-minute format.
Q: How long is soccer game in the Olympics?
A: Olympic soccer uses the standard 90-minute match. In group play, games can end in a draw after 90 minutes. In elimination rounds, if tied, teams play two 15-minute extra-time halves (30 minutes) and then penalties if still tied.
Q: How long is soccer game for 13-year-olds?
A: Youth games are shorter. Specifically, 13-year-old (U13) matches are typically two 35-minute halves (70 minutes total). This shorter duration reflects their age group. (By age 17+, games reach the full 90 minutes.)
Q: How long is a women’s soccer game?
A: Women’s soccer matches are the same length as men’s: 90 minutes regulation (2×45), plus halftime and stoppage time. In knockout tournaments (like the Women’s World Cup), extra time and penalties are used just as in men’s tournaments.
Conclusion
In summary, a soccer game officially lasts 90 minutes of playing time. This consists of two halves of 45 minutes each, with a 15-minute halftime. Referees add stoppage time at the end of each half to account for delays (typically a few extra minutes per half). Thus, most matches run about 105 minutes in real time. In tournaments that require a winner, extra time (2×15 min) and a shootout can extend the match to around 120–125 minutes of play. Youth and lower-level games are shorter (for example, U13 games are 70 minutes, U6 games only 24 minutes).
Now you know how long a soccer game is, from youth leagues up to the Olympics and World Cup! If you found this guide useful, share it with fellow fans and let us know in the comments if you have more soccer rules questions. Enjoy the match!
Sources: Official soccer laws and reputable sports publications.
