How Many Minutes are Played in a FIFA World Cup Match?

By Jason Bolton July 17, 2024 08:38

Photo by Peter Cziborra/Reuters

Soccer, referred to as football in many aspects of the world, has this authentic way of taking the sports globe by storm. The FIFA World Cup, the topmost among any other international soccer competition, serves as a red carpet for talents worldwide. The length of the soccer matches during the World Cup is one factor that also sets it apart, and with great reason. This post will cover how long games last in the soccer World Cup standard game duration, stoppage time, extra time, and penalties if necessary.

Soccer Game Length Official Standard

A regulation soccer match in the FIFA World Cup lasts 90 minutes and consists of two 45-minute halves. For decades, this has been one of the cornerstones of soccer matches, creating a level playing field for teams to compete against each other.

42 Minutes: The 2 x 45-minute halves

A 15-minute halftime interval separates the two halves of a game. Correct halftime provides an opportunity for tactical changes, talks, and a suitable level of downtime to ensure downtime ensures the game remains exciting and high-energy.

Additional stoppage time at the end of each half

Stoppage time, also known as injury time, added time, extra time, or overtime in North America, is the additional playing time allowed at the end of each half during a match. The referee uses stoppage time to encourage genuine attempts at scoring and prevent the match from being extended unnecessarily, as any unnecessary extension of a game only risks injury.

Overtime periods in Knockout Round games

Playoff matches tied following the 90-minute regulation will progress to two fifteen minutes of extra time. If the game is tied after both periods of extra time, it comes down to penalty kicks. Extra time and penalties will take that up to the last ditch level, which can only add an extra layer of drama we crave in the World Cup.

Variations in Game Length

These 90 minutes may be further extended due to halftime, stoppage time, and any Video Assistant Referee (VAR) reviews. The referee ensures that substitutions combined with injuries to players are added and measured based on his judgment. Referee timeouts were added as a part of injury time to make sure that there is fairness in terms of officiating. Many extra minutes should be allotted for other teams when you consider substitutes alongside players who leave due to injury. It said that to call back an unfair advantage given by the end-hour VAR reviews, it was implemented to improve the accuracy of referee decisions, which is one factor that can affect overall match length.

Game Length Evolution in Historical Context

Soccer games in the World Cup varied considerably over time. Changes in rules, aspects of the game being officiated, and tournament format during stages of the World Cup have evolved to cater for such lengthy matches from time immemorial until today. This helps provide an understanding as to why the game was constructed and how it still translates today.

The runtime for the matches in a FIFA World Cup is a very well-controlled and volatile subject of its constitution. Along with extra time and the possibility of overtime periods, there are also rules to modify game length.

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