How Long Is a Football Match? Full Time, Half-Time and Extra Time
A standard football match lasts 90 minutes, split into two halves of 45 minutes, with a half-time break of up to 15 minutes. With added time, most matches finish about 1 hour 50 minutes after kick-off. Knockout matches that need a winner can run for well over two and a half hours.
A typical match, step by step
| Part of the match | Length |
|---|---|
| First half | 45 minutes plus added time |
| Half-time | Up to 15 minutes |
| Second half | 45 minutes plus added time |
| Extra time (knockout matches only) | Two periods of 15 minutes |
| Penalty shoot-out (if still level) | Usually 10 to 20 minutes |
Why matches last longer than 90 minutes
The football clock does not stop when the ball goes out of play. Instead, the referee adds time at the end of each half for substitutions, injuries, cards, VAR reviews, goal celebrations and time-wasting. The fourth official shows the minimum added time on a board, and it is common to see between 3 and 10 extra minutes in the second half. Our stoppage time guide explains how this is calculated.
How long a match takes in real time
- League match: about 1 hour 50 minutes to 2 hours from kick-off to the final whistle.
- Knockout match with extra time: about 2 hours 30 minutes.
- Knockout match with penalties: about 2 hours 45 minutes, sometimes close to 3 hours.
If you are planning to watch late at night, allow for the longest case in a cup tie. For start times in Dhaka, see kick-off times in Bangladesh.
How much football is actually played?
Although a match lasts 90 minutes on the clock, the ball is usually in play for only around an hour or less. The rest of the time is taken up by throw-ins, free kicks, goal kicks, treatment and other stoppages. This figure is often called "effective playing time", and it varies from league to league and match to match.
When does a match go to extra time?
Extra time is only played when a competition's rules demand a winner on the day. League matches can simply end in a draw, so they never have extra time. World Cup knockout matches, cup finals and level two-legged ties usually do. Some cup competitions skip extra time and go straight to penalties. Read more about extra time and penalty shoot-outs.
Are all football matches 90 minutes?
No. The Laws of the Game allow shorter halves for some matches, as long as the referee and both teams agree before kick-off and the competition's rules permit it. Youth matches are often shorter, depending on the age group, and friendly and small-sided games frequently use their own timings. Senior men's and women's professional matches both last 90 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
How long is half-time in football?
Under the Laws of the Game, the half-time interval must not exceed 15 minutes. Competition rules can set a specific length, and any change must be approved by the referee.
What does 90+4 mean on a live score?
It means the match is four minutes into added time at the end of the second half. In the first half you would see something like 45+2. See how to read live football scores.
Can a referee end a match early?
The referee can abandon a match because of serious problems such as bad weather, crowd trouble or too few players. The organisers then decide what happens to the result.
What does FT mean?
FT stands for full time, meaning the match has finished. AET means it finished after extra time, and PEN means it was decided on penalties.
Check today's matches and their status on the EHScore home page.