How a match works, in a minute
How a football match works
- Two teams of 11, one of them a goalkeeper, try to get the ball into the other team's goal.
- A goal counts when the whole ball crosses the goal line between the posts and under the crossbar.
- A match is two halves of 45 minutes, with up to 15 minutes' half-time. The referee adds time at the end of each half for time lost.
- More goals wins. Level scores are a draw, unless the competition needs a winner.
When a winner is needed
In a knockout match, a draw goes to extra time, two halves of up to 15 minutes, played in full. If it is still level, a penalty shoot-out decides it: five kicks each, then pairs of kicks until one team leads.
How long
About 90 minutes of play plus added time; with half-time, a match takes close to two hours.