⚽ How long is each half in a soccer game?

In a standard soccer (association football) match, each half lasts 45 minutes.

⏱️ Full Match Breakdown

  • First half: 45 minutes
  • Halftime break: Usually 15 minutes
  • Second half: 45 minutes

That gives you a total of 90 minutes of regular play.

⏳ What about extra time?

Soccer games often run a bit longer than the clock suggests because of:

  • Stoppage time (added time):
    • Added at the end of each half
    • Compensates for delays like injuries, substitutions, or time-wasting
    • Example: A half might show “45+3 minutes” (45 minutes plus 3 minutes added)
  • Extra time (knockout matches only):
    • Two additional halves of 15 minutes each if the game is tied
    • Used in tournaments to determine a winner
  • Penalty shootouts:
    • If still tied after extra time, teams go to penalties

🧠 Quick Example

If you’re watching a World Cup match:

  • First half ends around 45 minutes + stoppage time
  • Second half ends around 90 minutes + stoppage time
  • If tied in knockout rounds → extra time + penalties

🗣️ Common confusion

“Why does the clock keep running even when play stops?”

Unlike sports like basketball, soccer’s clock doesn’t pause. Instead, the referee tracks lost time and adds it at the end—this is why matches often exceed 90 minutes.

✅ TL;DR

  • Each half = 45 minutes
  • Total regulation time = 90 minutes
  • Plus stoppage time , and sometimes extra time

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.