Why do they have to play 90 minutes of soccer? Can't they just make it shorter?

The 90 minutes duration of a soccer match is not an arbitrary number, it has been established for more than a century and has a rationale behind it. A standard soccer game is divided into two halves of 45 minutes each, with a 15-minute break in between. This setup has been agreed upon by FIFA, the international governing body of soccer, and is adhered to by soccer associations around the world.

The reason for the 90-minute game duration is largely due to historical reasons. In the early days of soccer, matches could be played for any length of time agreed upon by the teams. However, this led to some matches dragging on for hours, and in some cases even days, which was not practical. To avoid this, FIFA introduced the 90-minute rule, which is still in place today.

Moreover, the length of the game is also suited to the players' physical endurance, as soccer is a highly demanding sport that requires a lot of running and intense physical activity. Shortening the game duration could have a significant impact on the game's dynamics and could affect the quality of the game.

The 90-minute duration of a soccer match has been in place since the 1860s, when the Football Association (FA) first established the rules of the game. The FA decided on a 90-minute match because they felt it was the best length of time to allow for both teams to have a fair chance of winning. They also wanted to ensure that the match would be exciting and entertaining for spectators.

There have been some calls for the length of soccer matches to be shortened in recent years, but there are a number of reasons why this has not happened. One reason is that the 90-minute format is now deeply ingrained in the culture of the sport. It is what fans expect, and it is what players are used to. Changing the length of the match would be a major upheaval, and it is not something that the FA is likely to do lightly.

Another reason why the length of soccer matches is unlikely to change is that it would have a significant impact on the way the game is played. Shorter matches would mean that teams would have to play more aggressively in order to score goals. This could lead to a more open and exciting style of play, but it could also lead to more injuries.

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to shorten the length of soccer matches is a complex one. There are a number of factors to consider, and there is no easy answer.