Football is one of the most popular sports around the world. For football fans, knowing the exact duration of a match is important to be able to organize their time and follow the matches live. So, how long is a football match?
The duration of a football match
A football match usually lasts 90 minutes, divided into two periods of 45 minutes each. Between the two periods, there is a 15-minute break to allow players to rest and recuperate.
Additional time
However, the actual duration of a match may vary due to stoppage time, injuries and other interruptions. In these cases, the referee may add additional time to compensate for the lost time. This additional time is decided by the referee according to the duration of the interruptions, and it is announced before the start of the second period.
Competitive matches and overtime
In competitive matches such as tournaments or playoffs, in the event of a tie at the end of regulation time, there may be a 30-minute overtime. If the score remains tied after extra time, the teams can decide by a penalty shootout.
