Rules & Basics

If a soccer game is tied, knockout matches go to extra time and penalties. League games end as draws. Learn the exact rules and tournament specifics.

Yes, a soccer game can end during stoppage time. Learn the referee’s final authority, when play can be stopped, and the famous exceptions.

Understand soccer substitution rules. We explain the 5-player limit, 3 substitution windows, and the crucial 10-second exit protocol. Learn more today!

What is extra time in soccer? Understand its rules, 30-minute duration, and historical use in decisive matches. See how it differs from stoppage time.

Learn how injury time is calculated in soccer, who decides it, what events cause delays, and the new rules cutting stoppages from the /27 season.

Extra time vs stoppage time in soccer: what they are, when they’re used, and how they differ. Learn the rules and avoid confusion.

Extra time in soccer is 30 minutes (two 15-minute halves) played only in knockout matches tied after regulation. Learn the rules and when it’s used.

Soccer substitution rules limit teams to 5 substitutes and 3 opportunities in official matches. Learn the exceptions for extra time, youth leagues, and concussions.

Understand passive vs active offside in soccer. Learn what actions trigger the flag, the new VAR technology, and how defenders use the trap.

Understand stoppage time in soccer: why it exists, how it’s calculated, and the rules that separate it from extra time. Learn from a lifelong fan.

Halftime in soccer is 15 minutes long, set by IFAB’s Laws of the Game. Learn why it’s mandatory, when it can change, and how it fits into match timing.

A standard soccer match is 90 minutes of play plus a 15-minute halftime. Learn about stoppage time, extra time, and the real-world length of a full game.