The Football / Soccer season is one of the longest compared to other popular sports. Although soccer is played around the world, most national associations follow the leagues in Europe format of playing their season from August to May. This allows most soccer players to take much needed breaks in June and July. However with the FIFA World Cup, European Championship, Copa America, Olympics and other tournaments scheduled during this time, soccer always seems to be on TV and the best players are always playing.
The obvious exception is Major League Soccer in North America which usually runs its soccer season from March until November (including the MLS Cup playoffs). This was most likely to avoid competing with the NFL’s season in the United States which runs from September to February.
Up until the 2012/13 season the Russian Premier League ran its season from March to November to avoid playing games during the harsh winter months. This put Russian teams at a disadvantage during European club competitions because they had played most of their season as those competitions were kicking off. They have since aligned their season to the rest of the European leagues while opting for a three month winter break mid-season.
The prolonged pandemic from 2020 to 2021 has thrown schedules off recently, but here are the start and end dates for some of the ore popular soccer leagues:
According to the FIFA laws of the game, a professional soccer (football) match allows a maximum of 22 players on the field at any given time during the match. This includes 11 players per team (10 outfield players and one goalkeeper).Â
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What is a Soccer Field?
The soccer field is the complete space enclosed between goal line to goal line and sideline to sideline. Regardless of the size of the field, each soccer field is defined within those terms when it comes to the rules around how many players can actively participate during a match.
Substitutions
Although each team can name 5 to 12 substitutes (depending on the competition), these players must remain off the field while the ball is in play during a match. When a player is substituted, the incoming player must wait for the outgoing player to exit the field completely before coming on. This ensures the maximum number of on field players is maintained.
Red Cards and Injuries
The referee must call off a game if any of the two sides can no longer field at least 7 players (including the goalkeeper). This can be due to:
Players receiving red cards, or
A team forced to take an injured player off the field with no more substitutions available.
Therefore the minimum number of players on a soccer field during a match is 14.
Penalty Kicks
The only exception to the rule is during a penalty shootout. At this time even though the game is technically active, both teams typically gather together at the halfway line in solidarity and this includes the all substitutes and coaching staff.
Referees and other Officials
Besides the on field players, the referee is the only person allowed to be on the field while the ball is in play. However, both linesmen and the fourth official remain off the field during the game.
Although not part of the matchday officials, it is important to also note that medical personnel can only enter the field when the ball is out of play.
Other Formats
The above stipulations apply to the 11-a-side FIFA sanctioned men’s and women’s game. Different age groups (i.e. youth soccer) may not follow the same rules.
The game of soccer (football) is one of several sports that is difficult to pinpoint ahead of time exactly how long it takes to complete. This is because unlike most American sports (or at least the franchise modelled ones i.e. NHL hockey, NFL football, NBA basketball etc.) the game clock not only runs up instead of down, but more importantly it does not stop…at all…until the referee chooses to blow their whistle at the end of each half. For all other stoppages in game play the clock keeps ticking with the expectation that this time is added to the end of each half. But even then as we will see, the amount of time is fully at the discretion of the referee. Of course there are many further nuances that make the question of how long a soccer game lasts both simple to answer and yet hard to explain. Let’s give it a go!
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Professional Soccer Game
The short answer is a professional soccer game is 90 minutes long, comprising of two 45 minute halves and a 15 minute half-time break in between. Each half runs up from 0 to 45 minutes on the clock (46 to 90 in the second half), with the option of what is referred to as injury (or stoppage) time at the end of each half.
Injury / Stoppage Time
This is where the referee is empowered to add additional minutes for any in-game stoppages typically from: fouls, throw-ins, corners, substitutions, time wasting (yep!) and of course injuries. With the recent adoption of VAR (Video Assistant Referee) there can be a considerable amount of accumulated delays which now also contribute to injury time.
Throughout the half, the referee on the field keeps track of all such stoppages with the help of his watch and communicates this amount to fourth referee on the sidelines. It is the fourth referee who then indicates the amount of stoppage time to be added. Note that this is a minimum amount of time but technically the referee is authorized to add more if they choose but no less. On occasion referees have been known to stop a game a few seconds before the full stoppage time has been played.
Unless there are significant stoppages, the first half typically includes 1 minute of stoppage time with the referee reserving the bulk of added time for the second half. Footballing convention suggests that every substitution should allow for 30 seconds of added time. With each team having and usually using their 3 substitutions each in the second half of games, that’s already 3 minutes before even calculating other stoppages (injuries, time wasting, VAR, stray dogs etc.). Yet the average amount of second half added time is 4 minutes.
So adding it all together a professional soccer game will normally last approximately 110 minutes:
Phase
Minutes
First Half
45
First Half Injury Time (typical)
1
Half Time
15
Second Half
45
Second Half Injury Time (typical)
4
Total
110
Actual time taken for “90” minute game
Most soccer fans know to allow for 2 hours out of their schedule when planning to watch a televised game. Similar to an NBA fans planning for a 2.5 hour game.
Extra Time
Knock out games that involve the potential of extra time become a bit more complicated. If two teams are tied after “90 minutes” they then play an extra 30 minutes comprised of two 15 minute halves and a 1 minute break to switch sides. There is often no added time after the first half of extra time, but I am yet to watch a game where the referee successfully enforced the 1 minute half-time switch break.
Extra time second half injury time tends to vary but let’s go with 3 minutes:
Phase
Minutes
Break between Full Time and Extra Time
10
Extra Time First Half
15
Extra Time First Half Injury Time (typical)
0
Half Time
2
Second Half
15
Extra Time First Half Injury Time (typical)
3
Total
45
Actual time to complete Extra Time
Penalties
Going even further, if a game is still not decided after extra time and needs to go to penalties that’s a further amount of time to be played. There is a break between Extra Time for the coaches to select their 5 penalty takers and the order of the remaining players in case sudden death is needed. Of course penalties can also vary since they keep kicking until a a team wins, but let’s assume 15 minutes:
Phase
Minutes
Break between Extra Time and Penalties
10
Penalties (typical)
20
Total
30
Time to complete Penalties
Duration
In conclusion a professional soccer game can last anywhere from 2 to 3 hours depending on whether it is a regular 90 minute game or if it goes to extra time and then penalties:
Phase
Minutes
Regular game (no extra time or penalties)
110 (just under 2 hours)
Game with Extra time
155 (almost 2.5 hours)
Game with extra time then penalties
185 (just over 3 hours)
Summary of how long a Soccer game lasts
In this article we only focused on the professional soccer game. Official times differ as you go through different age groups as players train and are conditioned differently (as an example, see the US Youth Soccer Policy on Players and Playing Rules).
Some people believe football is a matter of life and death...it is much, much more important than that.
Bill Shankley
The Glaswegian definition of an atheist: a bloke who goes to a Rangers-Celtic match to watch the football.
Sandy Strang
The rules of soccer are very simple, basically it is this: if it moves, kick it. If it doesn't move, kick it until it does.
Phil Woosnam
The goalkeeper is the jewel in the crown and getting at him should be almost impossible. It's the biggest sin in football to make him do any work.
George Graham
Italians can't win the game against you, but you can lose the game against the Italians.
Johan Cryuff
Some people tell me that we professional players are soccer slaves. Well, if this is slavery, give me a life sentence.
Bobby Charlton
Whoever invented football should be worshipped as a God.
Hugo Sanchez
Five days shalt thou labour, as the Bible says. The seventh day is the Lord thy God's. The sixth day is for football.
Anthony Burgess
In Latin America the border between soccer and politics is vague. There is a long list of governments that have fallen or been overthrown after the defeat of the national team.
Luis Suarez
At a football club, there's a holy trinity - the players, the manager and the supporters. Directors don't come into it. They are only there to sign the checks.
Bill Shankley
If you are first you are first. If you are second, you are nothing.
Bill Shankley
The person that said winning isn't everything, never won anything.
Mia Hamm
Failure happens all the time. It happens every day in practice. What makes you better is how you react to it.
Mia Hamm
When I go to the press conference before the game, in my mind the game has already started.
Jose Mourinho
You can have the top stars to bring the attention, you can have the best stadium, you can have the best facilities, you can have the most beautiful project in terms of marketing and all this kind of thing. But if you don't win... All the work these people are doing is forgotten.
Jose Mourinho
Why is there only one ball for 22 players? If you gave a ball to each of them, they'd stop fighting for it.
Unknown Author
It was as if we had beaten a country, more than just a football team.
Ever wondered what some of those terms used by the on air commentators mean when watching your favorite soccer team playing? Whether you are new to the game or a seasoned fan, the below list of football/soccer terms should be helpful in better understanding the Beautiful Game’s lingo.
Soccer Terms
Agent
Person who represents players and negotiates contracts and transfer moves
Assist
A pass that releases a player to score a goal. The pass can be on the ground, a flick or a cross
Away goals rule
In cup competitions if scores are tied over two legs, the team with the most away goals wins
Back-pass rule
Law stating that deliberate passes from a player to their goalkeeper may not be handled
Cap
Appearance by a player for their country
Caution
Yellow card
Chip
A pass propelled into the air from a player to a teammate or as a shot on goal
Counter-attack
A quick attack by a team after it regains possession of the ball
Cross
To send the ball in to the center for a wide area of the field
Cushion the ball
Use of your body to bring the ball under control by reducing its speed
Derby
A game between two rival teams, usually from the same town or city. i.e. Liverpool and Everton
Direct free kick
A free kick from which a goal can be scored without anyone else on either team touching the ball
Dissent
When a player uses words or actions to disagree with a referees decision in a disrespectful manner
Distribution
The manner in which the ball is released by a goal keeper or player to teammates
Final third
Assuming the field is divided into the back, middle and front, the final third for an attacking team is the front third
Game of two halves
A popular phrase describing a game in which one half is vastly different from the other in terms of attacking impetus or possession
Golden goal
A system used to decide a winner of a game tied after regulation time. If a team is ahead at the end of the first period of extra time they win the game
Hat trick
The scoring of three goals by one player in a single game
Offside trap
A defensive tactic used by teams to lure opposing attacking players into offside positions
Overlap
To run ahead of a teammate with the ball in order to give them passing options
Professional foul
An intentional foul by a defender on an opposing attacker about to be clear on goal
Reserve team
A team made up mostly of a club’s youth and fringe players
Route one
Slang for a style of playing that involves long balls kicked up the field from the defence in search of teammates. Popularized by many English teams in the 80s
Silver goal
A system used to decide a winner of a game tied after regulation time. The first team to score in extra time wins the game
Sixes and Sevens
A British phrase used in soccer to usually describe chaotic defending e.g. “…their defence was at sixes and sevens.”
Square pass
To pass the ball to a teammate who is across the field but on the same line
Stoppage time
Time added on by the referee at the end of the regular 90 minutes. Usually for injuries, substitutions and time wasting
Total football
A style of play popularized by Johan Cruyff’s Dutch team in the 70s where every player on the team seamlessly switched positions
Volley
A ball kicked by a player when it is off the ground
Wingback
A defender on the side of the field given the freedom to carry the ball up the wing
Zonal marking
A defensive system in which players are responsible for areas of the field as opposed to marking specific opponents
20 red cards were shown during a 1993 game between Sportivo Ameliano and General Caballero in Paraguay.
ASEC Abidjan of Cote D’Ivoire went unbeaten for 108 games between 1989 and 1994.
Carlos Caszely of Chile was the first player red carded in a World Cup tournament on June 14, 1974.
European Teams have reached the final of every World Cup except in 1930 and 1950.
Goalkeeper Arthur Wharton was the first black professional soccer player. He was born in Ghana (then Gold Coast) and played for English League team Rotherham United in 1889.
In 1950 India withdrew form the World Cup because FIFA refused to let their team play barefoot.
In 1954 Turkey knocked out Spain from during a World Cup qualifier by drawing straws. Blindfolded Italian boy Luigi Franco Gemma picked the straws to decide the winner.
In 1957 with only 30 minutes remaining, Charlton Athletic game back from a 5-1 deficit to defeat Huddersfield Town 7-6.
In 1968, Penarol of Urugauy conceded only five goals in 18 games on the way to an unbeaten season.
In 1996 George Weah paid for his teammates uniforms and expenses so that Liberia could enter the African Nations Cup.
In 1997 Nigerian international Celestine Babayaro broke his leg while celebrating a goal in his Chelsea debut during a preseason game.
In 1998 English referee Martin Sylvester sent himself off after punching a player during a game in the Andover and District Sunday League.
In the 1938 World Cup semifinal, Guiseppe Meazza of Italy’s shorts fell down as he was taking a penalty shot. He held his shorts up and calmly scored past Brazil’s Valter.
In the 1970s legendary coaches Jock Stein and Brian Clough both had 44 day stints at Leeds United.
Jean Langenus of Belgium wore a suit jacket, golfing plus fours and a red striped tie when he refereed the 1930 World Cup final.
Luigi Riva once broke the arm of a spectator with one of his powerful shots.
Madagascan team Stade Olympique L’Emryne scored 149 own goals against champions AS Adema in 2002. They repeatedly scored own goals in protest of a refereeing decision in their previous game.
Michael Laudrup appeared for Real Madrid in a 5-0 win over Barcelona and also Barcelona when they beat Real Madrid 5-0.
Non flying Dutchman Dennis Bergkamp’s fear of flying caused him to miss many international and European games for Arsenal.
Sir Alex Ferguson was fired by St. Mirren in 1978 for swearing at a lady.
Sir Stanley Matthews never received a booking in his 33 year long career.
Under Herbert Chapman, The Arsenal changed their name to simply Arsenal in order to appear at the top of the alphabetical list of old Division One clubs.
The first televised game was an Arsenal practice match at the Highbury ground in 1937.