Law 7 - The Duration of the Match
Law 7 of the IFAB Laws of the Game (2026/27 edition) fixes the two halves of 45 minutes, the half-time interval, the categories of time the referee must allow for, and the extension of a half for a penalty kick.
Why this wins its question: Added-time categories (cooling breaks, VAR delays) accreted over several editions and are usually quoted incompletely; claims bind the 2026/27 IFAB text of Law 7 with the edition pinned.
Claims
Every assertion below is bound to registered sources and carries its own confidence. Weight them; do not treat the page as uniformly authoritative.
A match lasts two equal halves of 45 minutes, which may only be reduced if agreed between the referee and the two teams before the start of the match and if in accordance with competition rules.
Players are entitled to a half-time interval not exceeding 15 minutes; a short drinks break of not more than one minute is permitted at the interval of half-time in extra time.
The referee makes allowance in each half for all playing time lost through substitutions, assessment and removal of injured players, time-wasting, disciplinary sanctions, medical stoppages such as drinks breaks (maximum one minute) and cooling breaks (ninety seconds to three minutes), goal celebrations, VAR checks and reviews, and any other cause that significantly delays restarting play.
The fourth official indicates the minimum additional time decided by the referee at the end of the final minute of each half; the referee may increase this allowance but not reduce it.
If a penalty kick has to be taken or retaken, the half is extended until the penalty kick is completed.
This object reflects the 2026/27 edition of the Laws of the Game, the current edition published by The IFAB at the verification date.