The standard match length
A standard women's football match, like men's, consists of two halves, each lasting 45 minutes. This makes the total playing time 90 minutes. This regulation is universally applied, from local leagues to international tournaments like the FIFA Women's World Cup and the Olympic Games.
For example, in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup final, the match between Spain and England adhered to this 90-minute regulation, before heading into injury time.
Injury time (stoppage time) explained
Beyond the standard 90 minutes, there's injury time, also known as stoppage time or added time. This is added at the end of each half to compensate for any time lost during the game due to injuries, substitutions, time-wasting, or other delays. The amount of injury time is at the referee's discretion and is usually indicated by the fourth official using an electronic board.
The actual amount of injury time can vary significantly. A half with several substitutions and a serious injury will likely have more injury time than a half with few disruptions. For instance, a match with a prolonged VAR review might see a substantial amount of added time.
Extra time in knockout stages
In knockout stages of tournaments (e.g., the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final of the World Cup or the Olympics), if the score is level after 90 minutes plus injury time, the match proceeds to extra time. Extra time consists of two periods of 15 minutes each, with a short break in between. This means an additional 30 minutes of play.
An example would be a Women's Champions League semi-final. If the aggregate score is tied after the second leg, extra time is played to determine who advances to the final.
Penalty shootouts: the decisive moments
If the score is still level after extra time, the match is decided by a penalty shootout. Each team takes turns taking penalty kicks from the penalty spot. Typically, five penalties are taken by each team, unless one team has an insurmountable lead before all five penalties are taken. If the score remains tied after five rounds of penalties, the shootout proceeds to sudden death, where teams alternate taking penalties until one team scores and the other misses.
Remember the tense penalty shootout in the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup between the USA and Spain? These dramatic moments can significantly extend the time dedicated to watching a game.
Total match duration: considering all factors
Therefore, the total duration of a women's football match can vary considerably. The minimum duration is 90 minutes plus injury time. If the match goes to extra time, the total duration becomes 120 minutes plus any injury time added to each half of extra time. And, of course, a penalty shootout adds further time, depending on how many rounds are required to determine a winner.
prepare for at least 90 minutes, but be aware that matches in knockout stages can easily extend to over two hours, especially with extra time and penalty shootouts. So, grab your snacks, settle in, and enjoy the game!
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