How long is a football match?

Ninety minutes, in two halves of 45. But the clock on the wall says more: half-time, added time and, in a knockout, extra time and penalties. Here's how long a match really takes, and how long the shorter formats last.

By Squadcard. Last updated 22 October 2026.

In short

A football match is 90 minutes: two halves of 45 minutes.
Half time can't be more than 15 minutes.
The referee adds time at the end of each half for time lost to subs, injuries and delays.
Extra time, when a competition uses it, is two periods of up to 15 minutes, then penalties if it's still level.

90 minutes, two halves

The Laws of the Game set two equal halves of 45 minutes. The halves can only be shorter if the referee and both teams agree before kick-off and the competition's rules allow it, which is how youth and lower-level games get shorter matches.

Half time and added time

Half time can't be longer than 15 minutes, and the competition says how long it is. At the end of each half the referee adds time for everything that stopped play: substitutions, injuries, time-wasting, cards, goal celebrations, video reviews and drinks breaks. That's why a 90-minute match usually lasts close to two hours from kick-off to final whistle, with half-time.

Extra time and penalties

Most league games can end in a draw. In a knockout game that needs a winner, the competition can use extra time: two equal periods of no more than 15 minutes each. If it's still level, penalties decide it. Our penalty shootout rules cover how those work, and the golden goal is the old way extra time could end early.

Shorter formats

Youth 9v9 in England: up to 60 minutes, per England Football's guidance. More in the 9-a-side rules.
Futsal: two halves of 20 minutes with the clock stopped whenever the ball is out, so a game takes longer in real time. Futsal rules.
5-a-side and 7-a-side: whatever your booking allows. Pitches are often booked by the hour, so many friends' games play two halves of about 25 minutes, or straight through.
Walking football: set by the competition, in two to four periods. Walking football rules.

Making the hour count

In a booked hour, every minute spent arguing about teams is a minute not playing. The team generator splits the players before you get there, and Squadcard sorts who's in and picks fair teams from the ratings the players give each other.