Why is FIFA So Long? Unpacking the Extended Match Times in Modern Football
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The modern FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) game, encompassing both professional leagues and international tournaments like the World Cup, often feels significantly longer than the traditional 90 minutes. The core reason for this extension boils down to a concerted effort by FIFA to accurately reflect the actual time the ball is in play, minimize time-wasting tactics, and compensate for interruptions caused by goal celebrations, substitutions, VAR (Video Assistant Referee) reviews, injuries, and other delays. FIFA has directed referees to be more diligent in calculating and adding stoppage time (also known as added time or injury time) at the end of each half. This directive stems from a desire to ensure fans witness the full spectacle of the game and that teams aren’t penalized by losing precious minutes to strategic stalling.
Understanding the Factors Contributing to Extended Game Times
Several key elements contribute to the perceived and actual lengthening of FIFA-sanctioned matches:
1. Combating Time-Wasting
Time-wasting has always been a part of football, but FIFA is actively trying to curtail it. Players intentionally delaying restarts, feigning injuries, or taking an excessively long time to take set pieces are now more likely to be penalized, either with warnings, yellow cards, or the addition of more stoppage time. This push to reduce time-wasting is a significant driver for increased added time.
2. Accounting for Interruptions
Modern football is characterized by numerous interruptions. Substitutions take time, especially when multiple players are replaced. Injuries, requiring on-field treatment and assessment, can halt play for several minutes. VAR reviews, introduced to improve officiating accuracy, often involve lengthy pauses as referees review video footage of contentious incidents like potential penalties or offsides. These interruptions are all meticulously accounted for by the fourth official, who then advises the referee on the appropriate amount of stoppage time to be added. Goal celebrations, especially for crucial goals, can be quite lengthy, and the time spent celebrating is also factored into the added time calculation.
3. More Stringent Refereeing Guidelines
FIFA has provided referees with clearer and stricter guidelines regarding how to calculate and apply added time. These guidelines encourage a more meticulous accounting of all delays, leading to greater consistency across different leagues and tournaments. Referees are now encouraged to add seemingly significant blocks of time, such as 5, 10, or even 12+ minutes at the end of each half, a practice that was far less common in previous eras.
4. Impact of VAR
The introduction of VAR has undoubtedly increased the average game time. While intended to enhance fairness, the review process itself consumes valuable minutes. VAR reviews, even brief ones, contribute to the overall delay and subsequently increase stoppage time.
The Intended and Unintended Consequences
FIFA’s initiative to increase playing time has had both positive and potentially negative consequences:
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Pros:
- More Fairness: Accurately reflecting playing time ensures that teams have a legitimate opportunity to utilize the full 90 minutes (plus added time) to score and compete.
- Reduced Time-Wasting: The threat of substantial added time discourages blatant time-wasting tactics.
- Enhanced Spectacle: More playing time (theoretically) translates to more action and entertainment for fans.
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Cons:
- Increased Player Fatigue: Longer matches can lead to greater player fatigue and an increased risk of injuries, particularly towards the end of games.
- Potential for Psychological Impact: The knowledge that significant added time is likely can psychologically impact players, potentially leading to errors or changes in strategy.
- Game Flow Disruption: Lengthy stoppages, even when necessary for VAR or injuries, can disrupt the flow and momentum of the match, potentially impacting the viewing experience.
FAQs: Delving Deeper into FIFA’s Game Length
Here are some frequently asked questions addressing common queries and misconceptions surrounding FIFA’s game length:
1. Why is there so much injury time at the World Cup?
FIFA’s fourth officials routinely add time at the end of each half to account for time spent on injuries, celebrations, VAR reviews, and substitutions. At the 2018 World Cup, FIFA began heavily policing stoppage times to account for these factors.
2. Why is FIFA adding so much time?
This reflects a concerted effort by FIFA to crack down on timewasting in football. A variety of factors influence added time, including injuries, substitutions, VAR decisions, penalties and cards, plus deliberate time-wasting from players.
3. Does the clock ever stop in World Cup?
The clock counts up instead of down, and it never stops. If the ball goes out of bounds or players are lining up for a penalty kick, the clock continues. That’s where stoppage time, also known as added or injury time, comes into play.
4. Why does World Cup go over 90 minutes?
It is part of a move to combat time-wasting tactics which will see players penalized more often if they try to do so. Games running 90 minutes plus 10 additional minutes or more will become part of the new normal under the incoming rules.
5. Why does FIFA take 4 years?
The World Cup happens every four years in order to have enough time for the qualification tournaments and playoffs among national teams to take place.
6. Is FIFA extra time sudden death?
At the World Cup, extra time will consist of two 15-minute periods. If the score is still tied after extra time, it will go into a penalty shootout. There is no sudden death or “golden goal” at the World Cup, so if a match goes into extra time, we’re guaranteed those additional 30 minutes.
7. Has golden goal ever been used?
The golden goal was used in the FIFA World Cup for the last time in 2002, when Turkey defeated Senegal in the quarter-finals when İlhan Mansız scored what would be the final golden goal in male tournaments.
8. Why did FIFA remove golden goal?
They thought that introducing the golden goal rule would encourage teams to attack. In fact, it had the opposite effect. Teams saw the cost of conceding more vividly than they saw the benefit of scoring. After the rule was introduced, teams just sat back and waited for penalties.
9. Will the 2026 World Cup be bigger?
At a meeting of the FIFA Council in Kigali, Rwanda, it will be confirmed that there will be 104 games in 2026 instead of the 64 games which were played in Qatar last year. The extra 40 games are needed because the tournament is expanding from 32 to 48 teams.
10. How long will FIFA 2026 be?
The 2026 World Cup itself is set to last 39 days — a week longer than the 2010, 2014 and 2018 World Cups and 10 days more than the Qatar edition. The mandatory release period will begin on May 25, 2026, so the last official club matches must be played on May 24.
11. Will FIFA be every 3 years?
FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s latest plan to overhaul the international soccer calendar will involve switching the World Cup to be played every three years, according to the Daily Mail.
12. Is FIFA every 10 years?
The tournament has been held every four years since the inaugural tournament in 1930, with the exception of 1942 and 1946 due to the Second World War.
13. Why did EA Sports name FIFA 24 as EA FC 24?
EA’s shift away from the FIFA branding has led to the development of a new football gaming series called EA Sports FC. The inaugural installment of this series will likely be titled EA FC 24 and is expected to be released later this year.
14. Why is FIFA losing its name?
Following a three-decade partnership, FIFA and EA decided to end their relationship when the publisher chose not to continue licensing the FIFA branding, citing a reluctance to “pay a premium” for the license.
15. What will happen to FIFA after 2023?
EA Sports confirmed last year that FIFA 23 will be the last in its long-running series and will be replaced by a new title.
The Future of Game Length: What’s Next?
While FIFA’s current approach to managing game length seems to be settling into a new normal, it’s likely that the debate will continue. Refinements to VAR protocols, innovations in player injury prevention, and potential changes to substitution rules could all impact the length of future matches. Additionally, the ongoing conversation surrounding player welfare and workload will undoubtedly influence how FIFA balances the desire for more playing time with the need to protect athletes. It is essential to continue studying how the world interacts with sports like FIFA. Explore different gaming communities at the Games Learning Society website, GamesLearningSociety.org, to learn more about this exciting field!
Ultimately, FIFA’s commitment to ensuring that matches reflect actual playing time is a positive step towards greater fairness and transparency. While the extended game times may take some getting used to, they represent a move towards a more accurate and representative reflection of the beautiful game.