The Duration of Football Matches: How Long Do They Last???
How long is a football match?
A football match is generally divided into two halves, each lasting 45 minutes, for a total of 90 minutes of play. However, due to various stoppages such as injuries, substitutions, and added time, the actual playing time can vary.
In professional football, added time, also known as stoppage time or injury time, is added at the end of each half to compensate for these stoppages. The amount of added time is determined by the referee and can range from a few seconds to several minutes, depending on the duration of the stoppages.
In knockout competitions, such as the World Cup or the Champions League, matches that end in a draw after 90 minutes can go into extra time, which consists of two additional halves of 15 minutes each. If the score remains tied after extra time, the match is usually decided by a penalty shootout.
It's worth noting that the duration of football matches can vary depending on the level of play, the rules of the competition, and the country in which the match is played.
The Duration of Football Matches:
In conclusion, football matches consist of two halves of 45 minutes each, but the actual playing time can vary due to stoppages such as injuries and substitutions. Added time is added at the end of each half in professional football to compensate for these stoppages. Knockout competitions may also include extra time and penalty shootouts to determine a winner. The duration of a football match may vary depending on various factors such as the level of play, the competition, and the country in which it is played.
References:
FIFA Laws of the Game: https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/who-we-are/laws/
UEFA Regulations: https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/about-uefa/organisation/regulations/