Preparing the news article
Loading! ...
Preparing the news article
Loading! ...
How long is a football game? From the 60-minute NFL clock to the 90-minute soccer match, see the time breakdown including halftime and commercials.
If someone asks, “How long is a football game?” the quick answer feels easy.
Most people will say 90 minutes. Others will say 60 minutes.
But here is the truth: both answers can be right, and at the same time, both can be misleading.
That single question confuses millions of people every year because the word football means different things in different parts of the world.
In most countries, football means soccer. In the United States, football means American football.
And even when you know which one you are talking about, the real time a match takes is often much longer than the number written in the rulebook.
This article clears everything up. Whether you are a casual viewer, a new fan, or someone planning your time around a match, this guide explains how long football games really last, both on paper and in real life.
Before going deep, here is the straight answer that most people are looking for.
Soccer (Association Football)
Regulation time: 90 minutes (2 halves)
Real-world time: About 1 hour 45–55 minutes
NFL (American Football)
Regulation time: 60 minutes (4 quarters)
Real-world time: About 3 hours 10–15 minutes
College Football (NCAA)
Regulation time: 60 minutes (4 quarters)
Real-world time: About 3 hours 20–30 minutes
Now let’s explain why these numbers look simple but feel very different in real life.
A standard soccer match lasts 90 minutes, split into:
45 minutes – First half
45 minutes – Second half
There is a 15-minute halftime break in between.
That part is clear and does not change whether the match is played in England, Spain, Nigeria, Brazil, or anywhere else.
Relavant Links
If you have ever watched football properly, you know the final whistle rarely comes exactly at 90:00.
This is because of stoppage time, sometimes called injury time.
What Is Stoppage Time?
Stoppage time is extra time added by the referee at the end of each half to make up for:
Injuries
Substitutions
VAR checks
Time wasting
Goal celebrations
Unlike American football, the clock in soccer does not stop during these moments. Instead, the referee keeps track and adds extra minutes at the end.
Most matches add:
2–4 minutes in the first half
3–7 minutes in the second half
In recent seasons, especially after FIFA’s time-keeping review, referees now add more accurate stoppage time, sometimes pushing halves beyond 10 minutes when there are many delays.
Real-World Time for a Soccer Match
When you include:
90 minutes of play
Stoppage time
15-minute halftime
A typical soccer match lasts around:
1 hour 45 minutes to just under 2 hours
That is why soccer is easier to plan around. TV broadcasters, fans, and stadium staff all know roughly when it will end.
Extra time does not happen in regular league matches.
It only applies in knockout competitions like:
World Cup
AFCON
UEFA Champions League
FA Cup
Extra time adds:
30 more minutes (two 15-minute halves)
If the match is still tied:
A penalty shootout decides the winner
In those cases, a soccer match can stretch close to 2 hours 30 minutes, but this is not the normal situation.
Now let’s talk about the other football.
An American football game lasts 60 minutes, divided into:
4 quarters
Each quarter is 15 minutes
Halftime lasts:
12 minutes in the NFL
20 minutes in college football
On paper, that looks shorter than soccer. In real life, it is the opposite.
American football has a stop-start system, and that changes everything.
The clock stops for:
Incomplete passes
Players going out of bounds
Timeouts
Penalties
Reviews
Scoring plays
Every stop creates space for:
Replays
Analysis
Commercial breaks
This is why a 60-minute game stretches far beyond two hours.
One uncomfortable truth is this:
About one-quarter of an NFL broadcast is advertisements
Television deals are massive, and the sport is built around breaks. That is why games feel long, especially for new viewers.
The “18 Minutes” Reality
One widely shared fact surprises many fans.
Out of a 3-hour NFL game:
The ball is actually in live action for about 18 minutes total
The rest is:
Setup
Strategy
Replays
Breaks
Commercials
This does not make the sport bad, it simply explains why the clock moves so slowly.
On average:
NFL games last about 3 hours 10–15 minutes
College football games last 3 hours 20–30 minutes
College games often go longer because:
More clock stoppages
Longer halftime
Different rules for first downs
This is where most people finally understand the difference.
Soccer
Running clock
Few breaks
No commercial stoppages during play
Continuous flow
American Football
Clock stops often
Frequent breaks
Heavy TV influence
Tactical pauses
That is why soccer feels smoother and faster, even though it has more minutes on paper.
Soccer
15 minutes, almost everywhere in the world
NFL
12 minutes
Super Bowl halftime is much longer because of performances
College Football
20 minutes
Halftime length plays a big role in how long games feel, especially on TV.
The Super Bowl is a special case.
On average:
3.5 to 4 hours
Why so long?
Extended halftime show
Extra commercials
Longer pre-game and post-game coverage
The game itself still has 60 minutes of regulation time, but the event is designed as a full entertainment package.
Why This Question Still Confuses People
The confusion exists because:
The word football means different things
Regulation time is not the same as real-world time
TV broadcasts change how games feel
Rulebooks do not match viewer experience
Once you understand that, the question finally makes sense.