How long is the ball actually in play in soccer?

Answer 1

A match is supposed to last 90 minutes. However, some of this time is lost when the ball goes out of play, there is a substitution, a goal, a foul, and so on. Because no two games are identical, the actual amount of time the ball is in play varies widely. On average, the ball will be in play between 65 and 80 minutes of aggregate time. Also note that some leagues (youth leagues in particular) play shorter games, so this time is reduced for them. This time will be increased if the referee adds "stoppage time" or if the match requires extra periods to break a tie.