The FIFA World Cup 2026, hosted in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, is set to introduce several changes, including adjustments to match duration and breaks.
With an expanded field of 48 teams, the tournament will feature a total of 104 matches. This article clarifies the standard match duration, halftime breaks, the implementation of cooling breaks, and the procedures for extra time and penalty shootouts.
What is the Duration of a World Cup Match?
The World Cup begins with a group stage comprising twelve groups of four teams each. In this phase, every team plays every other team in its group once. Each match consists of two halves of 45 minutes, totaling 90 minutes of playing time. A 15-minute halftime break is provided, during which teams return to their locker rooms.
Injuries or other significant interruptions during a match can lead to an extension of playing time. The referee adds this time, known as stoppage time, at the end of each half. Consequently, most games extend beyond the standard 90 minutes. Assistants indicate the amount of added time with a board, informing players, coaches, and spectators of the remaining duration.
How Does Extra Time Work?
Following the group stage, the World Cup progresses to the knockout rounds, where the format sees a slight alteration. Knockout matches still adhere to a 90-minute regulation period. However, if the score is tied at the end of regular time, the match proceeds to extra time.
Teams will then play a 30-minute extra time period, divided into two 15-minute halves. The halftime interval in extra time is brief, allowing teams only to drink water and switch sides. If the score remains tied after the full 30 minutes of extra time, the match is decided by a penalty shootout.
Which Match Holds the Record for the Longest World Cup Game?
The record for the longest 90-minute FIFA World Cup match belongs to England vs. Iran at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which lasted a total of 117 minutes on the field. England won the match 6-2. The referee awarded 14 minutes and 8 seconds of stoppage time in the first half and 13 minutes and 8 seconds in the second half. This combined 27 minutes of stoppage time has been recognized in the Guinness Book of Records for the most added time in a FIFA World Cup match.
In the knockout stage, which includes extra time and penalty shootouts, a different record exists. Germany’s victory against France in the 1982 World Cup semi-final saw a total of twelve penalties taken by both teams. Sweden and Romania matched this in the 1994 quarter-finals in the USA, with Sweden advancing.
Are There Cooling Breaks, and Why?
The FIFA World Cup 2026 will implement cooling breaks in every match. A three-minute interval will be observed in each half to «prioritize player welfare.» These breaks will occur regardless of weather conditions to ensure a level playing field for all teams across all games.
Concerns regarding high temperatures during the tournament have led to the introduction of these breaks. The referee will halt play around the 22-minute mark of each half to allow players to hydrate. Tournament director Manolo Zubiria stated that these three-minute breaks will be standard in every match, irrespective of location, stadium roofing, or temperature. If an injury occurs before the scheduled break, the referee will make an executive decision.
Do Commercial Breaks Interrupt World Cup Matches?
Previously, broadcasters showed commercials only before matches, during halftime, and after games. However, for the 2026 World Cup, commercials will now be shown during the cooling breaks, following FIFA’s approval for broadcasters.
Broadcasters are permitted to start their commercials after the first 20 seconds of a cooling break and must resume the live broadcast no later than 30 seconds before play restarts. During these commercial breaks, broadcasters can opt for a split-screen view showing advertising alongside the game or switch entirely to commercials. Split-screen advertising is restricted to FIFA partner sponsors, while full commercial breaks can feature any type of advertisement.
This new approach effectively divides the 2026 World Cup matches into quarters, mirroring the format common in major US sports leagues like the NFL, NBA, and WNBA, which regularly feature advertising during their quarter breaks.
Can Teams Take Timeouts?
Traditional timeouts have never been a feature of football. Instead, referees add time at the end of each half to compensate for injuries, substitutions, or time-wasting. However, the scheduled cooling breaks at the 2026 World Cup effectively segment the matches into quarters, and many may perceive these as a form of timeout.