ไทย
English
中國人
A typical soccer match runs for 90 minutes, with additional stoppage time added during league fixtures.
In cup competitions, however, matches can extend to 120 minutes if the scores remain tied after 90, with a further 30 minutes of extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shootout to decide the outcome.
On occasion, though, matches have gone on far longer than anticipated due to a range of extraordinary circumstances.
Here, Sports Illustrated revisits some of the lengthiest matches in soccer history, beginning with the all-time record holder.
The Longest Game in Soccer History
The longest competitive soccer match ever documented took place between Stockport County and Doncaster Rovers at Edgeley Park on March 30, 1946.
After ending 2–2 at full time, the match proceeded into the standard 30-minute extra time period—yet no winner could be found. The game then continued under a "play-to-win" rule, akin to what is now referred to as a golden goal.
Stockport thought they had clinched the win in the 173rd minute when Les Cocker put the ball in the net, only for the goal to be disallowed, bringing their celebrations to an abrupt end.
In the end, the match ran to a remarkable three hours and 23 minutes, a record that has remained unbroken for decades.
Other Notable Long Games in Soccer History
According to the Guinness Book of Records, the longest amateur soccer match ever played was organized by a group of players in Wales, who in 2019 broke a world record by playing continuously for 169 hours. The endurance match was held to raise funds for the charity Kicking Off Against Cancer.
Staged at the Air Dome in Leckwith, Cardiff, the rules permitted each player a five-minute rest break per hour of play—amounting to roughly one hour of recovery for every 12 hours spent on the pitch.
At the professional level, one of the most unusually prolonged matches took place during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, when Benfica took on Chelsea. The fixture was severely disrupted by a nearby lightning strike, causing a suspension of approximately two hours partway through the game.
When factoring in the full 90 minutes of regulation and the extra time required to split the sides, the match lasted nearly five hours in total. However, given that a significant portion of that duration stemmed from the weather stoppage rather than active play, it does not officially feature among the longest matches on record.