Extra time in soccer is an additional playing period used by some competitions to decide a match that is tied after regulation. When a competition uses the standard option allowed by IFAB, it consists of two equal periods of no more than 15 minutes each. If the teams remain level, the competition may use kicks from the penalty mark to determine a winner.
The current framework comes from IFAB Law 10 and Law 7, reviewed October 11, 2026.
When is extra time played in soccer?
Extra time usually appears in knockout fixtures where the competition needs one team to advance or lift a trophy. It is not automatic whenever a game finishes 1–1 or 0–0. League matches often permit draws, and some tournament rules skip extra time and proceed directly to kicks from the penalty mark.
Always check the match’s own competition regulations. A cup final and a league match can have the same 90-minute score but different outcomes because of their formats.
How long does extra time last?
| Stage | Clock | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Regulation | 0–90 minutes, plus stoppage | Match may finish here if rules allow |
| Extra-time first period | Usually 90–105 minutes | Teams continue playing under normal soccer laws |
| Extra-time second period | Usually 105–120 minutes | Teams complete the second period |
| Penalty shootout | No running match clock | Used if the competition requires it and the tie remains |
Those clock labels are approximate shorthand. Referees still allow for interruptions, so a match can run beyond the 105th or 120th minute. IFAB also permits a brief drinks break at the interval between extra-time periods, not exceeding one minute.
Does the first goal in extra time end the match?
No. The old “golden goal” idea of stopping immediately after a score is not the normal procedure under the current Laws. Both extra-time periods are played as prescribed, even if one team takes the lead in the first. The trailing team can still equalize or win before extra time ends.
What happens if the game is still tied after 120 minutes?
When required by the competition, a penalty shootout follows. This is not the same thing as a regular penalty kick awarded for a foul during play. During a shootout, the teams take designated kicks from the penalty mark under the Law 10 procedure to determine which team advances. The goals scored in a shootout do not increase the match’s playing-time score in the same way as goals in normal play.
A broadcaster may describe a match as 1–1 after extra time, then 4–3 on penalties. That means the actual match ended 1–1; the shootout determined the winner.
Extra time vs. stoppage time: do not confuse them
Stoppage time is a referee’s allowance for delays at the end of a half. Extra time is a new pair of periods authorized by the competition to break a tie. A game labeled 90+6 is still in second-half stoppage time. Once a match officially reaches the first extra-time period, the clock commonly runs from 90 toward 105 and then 120.
Soccer laws continue to operate throughout extra time, including offside decisions and goal-kick procedures.
Extra-time FAQ
Is there a halftime during soccer extra time?
There is an interval at the change of ends, but not a second ordinary 15-minute halftime. IFAB Law 7 allows a short drinks break of no more than one minute at this interval.
Can a competition go straight to penalties?
Yes, depending on its competition rules. The knockout format determines whether extra time precedes the shootout.
Are extra-time goals counted in the match result?
Yes. A winning goal scored in extra time changes the score of the match. Penalty-shootout kicks are instead recorded separately to decide the outcome.
Does a red card disappear when extra time starts?
No. The extra periods continue the same match. Dismissals do not reset simply because the regulation clock reached 90 minutes.
Image credit: Anton Zaitsev / soccer.ru, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0, unchanged.
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