Extra time rules in soccer: How long and when additional minutes are played in matches, and format explained

Pressure is a constant feature in the knockout stages of tournament soccer games.

Alongside the tension surrounding the chance of progressing to the next stage, or potentially winning a trophy, the prospect of extra time and penalties adds another element to each match.

Extra time is something more associated with international football as World Cup, European Championship and Copa America knockout games are often decided after the 90-minute mark. However, regular viewers of club competitions such as the UEFA Champions League or FA Cup will also know the thrill — and anxiety — that extra time can bring.

The Sporting News looks at the key details on how and when extra time applies to soccer matches.

MORE: Full schedule of Euro 2024 matches, results updated LIVE through the tournament

What is extra time in soccer?

There is a crucial difference between 'extra time' and 'added time' in soccer matches. 'Added time' (also known as injury time, or stoppage time) refers to minutes that can be added on by the referee at the end of both the first and second half of matches. This added period is to cover for in-game delays including injuries, substitutions, time-wasting and other incidents such as VAR checks.

Extra time is different.

Extra time is a 30-minute period played after the end of 'normal time' (90 minutes plus any added time) and is only played if the scores are tied . It is utilised in knockout-stage matches in certain club and international competitions, such as the UEFA Champions League, European Championship, and FIFA World Cup.

Extra time rules, format: How long is it and how is it played?

Extra time lasts for 30 minutes, regardless of the competition in which it is used. It is essentially a mini-game, comprising two halves of 15 minutes each.

If a team is ahead on the scoreboard at the end of those 30 minutes, that team wins the match. If the game is still tied, the contest will progress to a penalty shootout to decide the winner.

What is the 'Golden Goal' rule in soccer?

The 'Golden Goal' format is a form of sudden death in extra time. It is essentially a next-goal-wins scenario: the first team to score a goal is immediately declared the winner of the match.

FIFA introduced Golden Goal rules into knockout games in selected competitions in 1993. It was utilised in certain matches across domestic and international matches including the UEFA European Championship in 1996. In the final of that tournament, Oliver Bierhoff's winning goal for Germany in extra time against the Czech Republic confirmed them as European champions.

The final of Euro 2000 was also settled by a Golden Goal, as David Trezeguet's strike saw France beat Italy. However, it was removed from major tournaments from 2004 onwards and is now seldom seen in football.

What is the 'Silver Goal' rule in soccer?

In 2002, UEFA trialled a replacement for the Golden Goal rule — one that would maintain an element of jeopardy during extra time but remove the "perceived unfairness" of the next-goal-wins format. The new rule stated that, if a team held the lead by halftime of extra time , that team would be declared the winners. Thus, the 'Silver Goal' rule was born.

It didn't last. IFAB, the rule-making body of football, declared it would be removing both Golden Goal and Silver Goal from its Laws of the Game in 2004. The last time we saw it in a major international tournament was in Euro 2004, when Traianos Dellas scored for Greece in the final seconds of the first half of extra time in their semifinal clash with the Czech Republic.

How long is a soccer game?

A standard soccer game is 90 minutes, split into two 45-minute periods either side of a 15-minute break. Referees can add minutes to the end of each half depending on delays in a game.