Whether you’re interested in playing, officiating, or watching soccer, knowing the rules involved can come in handy. One of the critical areas of the game is the duration which can be beneficial for making plans especially if you have to travel long distances to play or watch a game.

This article answers the question “How Many Innings In A Soccer Game?” by revealing the duration of standard soccer games and other rules that may come in handy when the game ends in a tie. This may be crucial for those used to baseball and softball which comprise 9 and 7 innings respectively.

How Many Innings In A Soccer Game?

A standard soccer game has two halves of 45 minutes each with a 15-minute break known as halftime between the first and second halves unlike the innings in baseball. Indoor and kids’ soccer games may be shorter at 4 halves of 15 minutes each because they lack the stamina to go the full 90 minutes. Referees may include some added time to make up for stoppages due to injuries, substitutions, and time-wasting by one team.

Are you familiar with the rules of baseball and softball games and wondering whether soccer has innings too? The rules of soccer can be quite different and one area where they stand out from the other two popular sports is the duration of the game.

Who Decided On The 90-Minute Duration For Soccer Games?

A game between London and Sheffield in 1886 was the first time soccer was played for 90 minutes. The duration was ratified in 1897 and became officially adopted by the IFAB.

Time limits were non-existent in soccer when the game started in the 1800s and teams would typically play until the sun went down. But it all changed after that now-famous game in England. (Source)

Added/ Stoppage Time

Substitutions, injuries, and time-wasting can inhibit the flow of the game and reduce the intended 90 minutes of action. Referees are obliged to add stoppage time at the end of 90 minutes to make up for the lost time.

There’s no limit on how much stoppage time a referee can give since each game is different. But generally, stoppage time lasts for up to 5 minutes.

What Happens When A Game is Tied At The End of 90 Minutes?

A game may end as a draw if it’s tied after 90 minutes during regular league games and group-stage matches in tournaments like the World Cup, European Championships, CONCACAF Gold Cup, and the Copa America.

Points are split 1 apiece when a game ends in a tie during non-elimination matches. However, tied games may go to Extra Time and Penalties in quarter-finals, semi-finals, finals, or other matches where a winner is needed. Extra Time typically consists of two halves of 15 minutes each with a 5-minute break in between.

The full 30 minutes is played to completion even if one team scores during Extra Time giving the opposing team the chance to draw level or even win.

Penalty Kicks

Penalty kicks typically follow Extra Time if the score is still tied at the end of the two 15-minute halves. In some tournaments or competitions, tied games are taken to penalties immediately once the 90-minute duration ends.

Each team is typically given 5 shots and allowed to select the names of the 5 best penalty takers on the field. Players that were not on the field of play before the referee blew the final whistle for penalties are not allowed to participate and that includes those that played some part of the game earlier but were substituted for tactical or injury reasons.

If the scoreline is still tied after 5 penalty shots each, additional shots may be added and the remaining players are asked to take shots one at a time until one team emerges as the winner.

How Long Is A High School Soccer Game?

A standard high school game consists of 2 halves of 40 minutes each. A half-time of 10 minutes or less between the two halves may be agreed upon by both teams before the start of the game.

This is typically common in high school tournaments where several games are played in a single day at one venue. Players use the halftime period to hydrate, rest, and receive feedback and tactical instructions from their coaches.

How Long Are Youth Soccer Games?

Youth soccer games have different durations for different age groups to suit the player’s stamina. Games may be divided into several parts for the younger age groups to meet the strength and work rate of playing kids.

For instance, Under-8 games may comprise four quarters of 12-minutes each while an under-10 game typically consists of two halves of 25 minutes. This is similar in some ways to the innings in softball or cricket.

How Long Is A Soccer Game In The Olympics?

Soccer games in the Olympics last two halves of 45 minutes each plus additional time to make up for injuries and other forms of stoppages. In the elimination rounds, tied games may go an extra 2 halves of 15 minutes each with a 5-minute break after the first half to find a winner.

The match goes into penalties if the scoreline is still tied at the end of the regular 90 minutes plus 30 minutes of additional time.

Can A Soccer Game End Early?

A soccer game may end early if the referee is not convinced that it can continue under safe circumstances. This may be due to extreme weather such as lightning storms or heavy downpours that could make the field unplayable.

Stadium stampedes, mass field invasions, and other forms of rowdy behavior that may threaten the lives of players, officials, and soccer fans can also force referees to call a game off early.

Conclusion: How Many Innings In A Soccer Game?

There are no innings in soccer and teams play 2 halves of 45 minutes each with a 15-minute break to recuperate, use the toilet, and listen to tactical advice from the coaches.

Some youth soccer games may run less than 90 minutes in total depending on the age group since underaged kids do not have the stamina to withstand 90 minutes of action.