how long is soccer game world cup

A World Cup soccer match is 90 minutes in regulation: two 45-minute halves with a 15-minute halftime break. It usually lasts about 2 hours in real time once stoppage time is added, and knockout games can go longer with 30 minutes of extra time and then penalties if needed.

How it works

• Group stage: 90 minutes, plus stoppage time.

• Knockout stage: 90 minutes, then extra time if tied.

• Extra time: two 15-minute halves, for 30 more minutes total.

• Penalties: used if the match is still tied after extra time.

Real-world timing

In practice, the clock can run much longer than 90 minutes because of injuries, substitutions, celebrations, reviews, and hydration breaks. For the 2026 World Cup, some matches can stretch well past two hours because FIFA added mandatory hydration breaks in each half.