The short answer is 90 minutes. The honest answer is “longer than that”, because the referee adds time for stoppages, there is a break at half-time, and some matches need extra time and a penalty shoot-out. This guide explains how each part of a football match is timed under Law 7 of the IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, how added time is calculated, and what to expect in the Premier League, MLS, college and youth soccer. It is useful whether you are planning a TV evening, booking a pitch or scheduling a tournament.
The standard 90 minutes
A senior match consists of two equal halves of 45 minutes. The clock is a running clock: unlike basketball or American football, it does not stop when the ball goes out of play. Instead, the referee keeps track of time lost and adds it at the end of each half.
| Phase | Duration |
|---|---|
| First half | 45 minutes + added time |
| Half-time | Maximum 15 minutes |
| Second half | 45 minutes + added time |
| Extra time (if needed) | 2 × 15 minutes, short break between |
| Kicks from the penalty mark | Usually 10–20 minutes |
The Laws allow halves to be shortened only if the referee and both teams agree before the start and the competition rules permit it, which is common in youth football but not in professional leagues.
Added time (stoppage time)
Added time, also called stoppage time or injury time, compensates for time lost during the half. The referee allows for:
- substitutions,
- assessment and removal of injured players,
- time-wasting,
- disciplinary sanctions,
- medical stoppages permitted by competition rules, such as drinks or cooling breaks,
- VAR checks and on-field reviews,
- goal celebrations,
- any other cause, including significant delays to restarts.
The fourth official shows the minimum added time on a board at the end of each half. It is a minimum, not a maximum: the referee can play longer if more time is lost during the added period. Since FIFA and IFAB pushed for more accurate timekeeping around the 2022 World Cup, many competitions add noticeably more time than a decade ago, so a modern professional game often runs well past 95 minutes on the clock.
Newer time-keeping rules also reduce wasted time. Since 2025/26 a goalkeeper who holds the ball for more than eight seconds concedes a corner. At the 2026 World Cup and in competitions that adopt it, throw-ins and goal kicks are subject to a five-second visual countdown, a substituted player must leave within 10 seconds, and a player treated on the field must stay off for one minute after the restart.
Real-world timing: how long to plan for
For a typical league match, budget:
- Kick-off to final whistle: 105–115 minutes.
- TV broadcast slot: usually around 2 hours including build-up and analysis.
- Knockout match with extra time: roughly 2 hours 15 minutes before penalties.
- Knockout match with penalties: often 2 hours 30 minutes or more.
If you are running your own game, an online scoreboard with a match clock makes it easy to track both halves and show added time to players and parents.
Extra time and penalties
Extra time is not part of every match. It is only played when competition rules require a winner on the day, such as cup ties and knockout rounds at the World Cup. It consists of two periods of 15 minutes, again with added time. Golden goal and silver goal no longer exist, so the full 30 minutes are played.
If the teams are still level, the match is decided by kicks from the penalty mark. Each team takes five kicks, alternating; if still level after five each, it becomes sudden death. Only players on the pitch at the end of extra time are eligible, and if one team has more players, it must reduce to the same number before the shoot-out. Kicks from the penalty mark are not part of the match itself, so goals scored in the shoot-out do not count in a player’s statistics.
Some two-legged ties go straight to penalties without extra time, depending on the competition. For bracket-style tournaments, our tournament bracket generator helps you plan each round so that you leave enough time for possible extra time.
Premier League, MLS and other professional competitions
The Premier League, EFL, Scottish Premiership, MLS and NWSL all use 2 × 45 minutes with a half-time break of up to 15 minutes. League matches can end in a draw, so there is no extra time. MLS playoff formats have changed in recent seasons (for example, drawn games in the best-of-three first round go straight to penalties), so for any playoff or cup competition check that season’s regulations. Domestic cups like the FA Cup and the US Open Cup also follow their own regulations for replays, extra time and shoot-outs.
College, high-school and youth soccer
In the US, NCAA college soccer is played over two 45-minute halves but with its own rules on clock management and overtime, published in the NCAA rulebook. High-school soccer under NFHS rules usually uses two 40-minute halves, and some states adjust the length for different levels.
Youth football is shorter everywhere, and each federation sets its own age bands and match lengths. The common pattern is a progression of formats:
| Stage (typical) | Common format | Match length |
|---|---|---|
| Youngest players (around U7–U8) | 5v5 | Short periods, often split into quarters |
| Around U9–U10 | 7v7 | Shorter halves than senior football |
| Around U11–U12 | 9v9 | Longer halves, still below 2 × 45 |
| Teenagers | 11v11 | Halves grow with age toward 2 × 45 |
The FA, US Youth Soccer, state associations and local leagues each publish exact minutes per age group, so always check your league handbook before scheduling.
Small-sided and recreational games
Five-a-side and seven-a-side leagues usually play to the booking slot: typically 40 to 60 minutes in total, often as two halves with a quick changeover. Many recreational leagues use a running clock with no added time. An interval timer set to your halves and break is an easy way to keep these games fair. For the playing rules of those formats, see our football rules guide.