In standard association football (soccer), what is the duration of one half of a regular match, excluding stoppage time or extra time?

Introduction / Context:
Association football, commonly called soccer, is governed by standardized rules known as the Laws of the Game. One of the most basic aspects of these laws concerns the duration of a match and the length of each half. This question checks your understanding of the official time allocated for each half in a standard adult football match, not including stoppage or extra time.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The sport in question is association football (soccer).
• We are concerned with a standard full-length match for adults.
• We must identify the duration of one half, excluding stoppage and extra time.
• The options are 30, 35, 40, and 45 minutes.

Concept / Approach:
According to the Laws of the Game, a standard football match consists of two equal halves of 45 minutes each for adults. The referee may add stoppage time at the end of each half, and extra time may be played in certain competitions if a winner is needed. However, the basic regulation playing period remains 45 minutes per half. Youth or amateur matches may use shorter halves, but this question clearly refers to the standard format used in professional and international games.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the structure of a typical football match: two halves separated by a halftime break. Step 2: Remember that for adult matches, each half is 45 minutes long under official rules. Step 3: Distinguish between regulation time (45 minutes per half) and stoppage time, which is additional and variable. Step 4: Compare the standard 45-minute figure with the given options. Step 5: Select 45 minutes as the correct answer for the duration of one half.

Verification / Alternative check:
The official Laws of the Game published by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) state that a match lasts two equal halves of 45 minutes (a total of 90 minutes). While competitions can change this for certain categories (such as youth matches), standard adult football uses this 45-minute half-length worldwide. Any reputable football rulebook or governing body website confirms this structure, leaving no doubt about the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Thirty minutes and 35 minutes are used in some youth or shortened formats but are not the standard for full adult matches. Forty minutes is closer but still incorrect for official adult games governed by the Laws of the Game. Only 45 minutes matches the globally accepted standard duration for each half in normal adult football matches, excluding stoppage and extra time.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may confuse the total match time (90 minutes) with the time for one half, or they might think of shorter durations used in school-level or friendly matches. Others might overthink the mention of stoppage time and mistakenly try to factor it into the basic half-length. The key is to focus strictly on the regulation time per half as defined in the official rules: 45 minutes.

Final Answer:
In a standard adult football match, each half lasts 45 minutes, excluding stoppage time or extra time.