A football (soccer) match lasts 90 minutes, a rugby match 80, a basketball game 40 (48 in the NBA) and an American football game 60. Other sports, such as baseball, volleyball and tennis, have no clock: they end when the innings or sets are completed. This is the table with the regulation time of 14 sports and formats, taken from the official rulebooks.
How long a game lasts, sport by sport
| Sport | Playing time | How it is divided | If it is tied |
|---|---|---|---|
| Football (soccer) | 90 minutes | 2 halves of 45, with a break of up to 15 | In knockouts: extra time of 2 halves of 15, then penalties |
| Rugby union | 80 minutes | 2 halves of 40, with a break of up to 15 | In knockouts: extra time, depending on the tournament |
| Rugby sevens | 14 minutes | 2 halves of 7 | Sudden-death extra time |
| Basketball (FIBA rules) | 40 minutes | 4 quarters of 10, with the clock stopped | 5-minute overtimes until there is a winner |
| Basketball (NBA) | 48 minutes | 4 quarters of 12, with the clock stopped | 5-minute overtimes until there is a winner |
| American football (NFL) | 60 minutes | 4 quarters of 15 | Overtime |
| Handball | 60 minutes | 2 halves of 30 | In knockouts: extra time of 2 halves of 5 |
| Field hockey | 60 minutes | 4 quarters of 15 | Shoot-out, depending on the tournament |
| Ice hockey | 60 minutes | 3 periods of 20, with the clock stopped | Overtime and shoot-out, depending on the tournament |
| Futsal | 40 minutes | 2 halves of 20, with the clock stopped | In knockouts: extra time of 2 halves of 5 |
| Baseball | No clock | 9 innings | Extra innings until there is a winner |
| Volleyball | No clock | Best of 5 sets: to 25 points, the fifth to 15 | Each set must be won by two points |
| Tennis | No clock | Best of 3 sets, or 5 in men's Grand Slam matches | Tie-break |
| Padel | No clock | Best of 3 sets | Tie-break |
The table shows the playing time set by the rules. The time you spend at the ground or in front of the television is always longer, because there are breaks, stoppages and, in some sports, a clock that stops every time the ball goes out of play.
How long is a football match
Two halves of 45 minutes with a break that cannot exceed 15, according to Law 7 of the IFAB, the body that sets the laws of football. Added time comes on top: in each half the referee makes up for time lost to substitutions, injuries, time-wasting, sanctions, VAR checks and goal celebrations. The fourth official shows the minimum to be added, and the referee can increase it but not reduce it.
In practice, close to two hours pass between the first and the final whistle. In knockout matches that end level, extra time of two 15-minute halves is played and, if the tie persists, a penalty shoot-out.
How long is a rugby match
80 minutes, in two halves of 40, with a break of no more than 15 minutes decided by the organiser, according to World Rugby's Law 5. The referee can stop the clock, for injuries for example, so real time is longer. Rugby sevens, the Olympic version, is played in two halves of 7 minutes.
How long is a basketball game
It depends on the league. Under FIBA rules, which apply at the Olympic Games, world cups and most national leagues, there are four quarters of 10 minutes: 40 in total. In the NBA quarters last 12, so the game has 48. In both cases the clock stops every time play is interrupted, and if the score is tied, 5-minute overtimes are played until someone wins: there are no draws in basketball.
Sports with a clock that stops
Basketball, futsal and ice hockey are played with a stopped clock: only the time the ball or puck is in play counts. That is why a futsal match of 40 regulation minutes runs considerably longer. American football is the extreme case: it has 60 minutes of play, but with stoppages, timeouts and television breaks an NFL broadcast lasts around three hours.
Sports with no clock
Baseball, volleyball, tennis and padel have no time limit. A baseball game ends when nine innings are completed; in Major League Baseball, the 2026 season averaged 2 hours and 42 minutes per nine-inning game, according to league figures reported by AP. In 2022, before a pitch clock was introduced, the average was 3 hours and 4 minutes.
In tennis the variation is huge: a best-of-three match can be settled in an hour, and the longest in history, between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon in 2010, lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes spread over three days.
How to read the table
- It is adult regulation time. Children's and youth categories usually play shorter periods.
- Tie-breakers depend on the tournament. Extra time, penalties or sudden death apply in knockout matches; in many leagues a draw stands as the result.
- Each competition can adjust the breaks. The rules set maximums; the organiser decides within that margin.
If you are into football, see also the dimensions of a football pitch and the list of Ballon d'Or winners.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a football match?
90 minutes, in two halves of 45, plus added time and a break of up to 15 minutes.
How long is a rugby match?
80 minutes, in two halves of 40. In rugby sevens, 14 minutes.
How long is a basketball game?
40 minutes under FIBA rules (four quarters of 10) and 48 in the NBA (four quarters of 12), with a stopped clock.
How long is an American football game?
60 minutes of play, in four quarters of 15. With stoppages, a broadcast lasts around three hours.
How long is a volleyball match?
It has no clock: it is played as best of five sets, to 25 points each and to 15 in the fifth.
