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Several MLS executives have confirmed that talks with soccer's governing body have occurred regarding the possibility of bringing back a stopped clock to games in the U.S. top division.
The idea of pausing time during injuries or unexpected stoppages is well-established across various American sports, including the NFL and NBA. Soccer, however, has traditionally operated with a running clock managed by the referee, with time lost to delays added at the end of each half by the fourth official.
This wasn't always the norm. During MLS's first three seasons (1996–99), a countdown clock was in use. Each half started at 45:00 on the stadium scoreboard and was paused for in-game interruptions before counting down to zero, bringing play to an immediate stop.
The league eventually returned to international standards at the turn of the century, but amid growing concerns over time-wasting in the modern game, discussions about reinstating the stopped clock have begun.
Ali Curtis, MLS's executive vice-president of sporting development, issued a statement to The Guardian disclosing that "preliminary conversations with IFAB around future areas of innovation, including concepts such as a stopped clock, increased transparency around timekeeping, and other measures designed to improve consistency and fan understanding" have already taken place.
MLS vice-president of competition Paul Grafer added: "We're open to trials around the world, and working with IFAB."
Why Would MLS Want to Bring Back the Stopped Clock?
Grafer noted that a stopped clock would serve as a means to "address gamesmanship and match manipulation," issues that existing "stopgap procedures" introduced in recent years have failed to adequately resolve.
Concerns over time-wasting have intensified in recent years. Ahead of the 2023–24 season, a concerted effort was made to offset the minutes lost to delays by adding significantly larger amounts of stoppage time to each half. "I am convinced time wasting will be reduced when players know it is meaningless to waste time because that time is compensated," said legendary former referee and current FIFA referees committee chair Pierluigi Collina at the time.
The results have been mixed. While the 2023–24 season saw an initial uptick in ball-in-play time, the trend has declined over the following two campaigns. Time-wasting has remained a persistent criticism, leveled at clubs such as Arsenal during their Premier League title-winning run, for instance.
"These discussions [with IFAB] are exploratory," Curtis added. "But they reflect a broader commitment across the global game to examine how the sport can continue to modernize while preserving what makes soccer unique."
Why Did MLS Get Rid of the Stopped Clock?
The countdown clock was just one of several innovations MLS introduced at its founding in 1996. Others included additional goalkeeper substitutions, a salary cap set at $192,500, and most notably, tied regular season matches being settled by 35-yard penalty shootouts.
The appointment of Don Garber as MLS Commissioner in August 1999 quickly led to the dismantling of these experimental features. The countdown clock and penalty shootouts were scrapped before the 1999 season had even concluded, with European conventions adopted for the MLS Cup in November.
"Our core audience has spoken," Garber explained. "And we have listened."
Will the Stopped Clock Come Back?
MLS has successfully championed several rule changes in recent years, most notably playing a leading role in the adoption of VAR (video assistant referees). Nevertheless, this particular change is expected to be a bridge too far. The Guardian cited sources within IFAB who raised concerns about the "sacrosanct" nature of a 90-minute match.
Perhaps more persuasive, though, are broadcaster concerns about the unpredictable duration of games. Given the significant influence of television revenue on elite soccer, this perspective carries considerable weight.
At present, there is said to be "very little support" for the proposal.