What Does FT Mean in Soccer? 

What does FT mean in soccer? FT stands for “full-time” and refers to the completion of a soccer game. 

In most professional and U15 (and older) soccer matches, the game is divided into two halves, each lasting 45 minutes with a 15-minute break in between. Full-time would be the final 90-minute whistle.

Once the second half has been played, the referee will signal the end of the game by blowing the whistle three times, and the score at that point becomes the final result.

While FT is a commonly used term in soccer, it is not the only abbreviation used to describe the end of a game.

In some cases, matches may end in a draw, which is indicated by the acronym “D” for “draw” or “T” for “tie.” In other cases, a game may go into extra time, which is indicated by the abbreviation “ET.”

Understanding the various abbreviations used in soccer can help fans and players better understand the game and its outcomes.

Full-Time Explanation

Again, FT stands for “full-time” in soccer.

During the match, there may be additional time added by the referee, known as stoppage time or injury time, to account for any time lost due to injuries, substitutions, or other interruptions.

This extra time is added to the end of each half, and the total amount of stoppage time is announced by an official.

In some soccer competitions, such as knockout tournaments or league matches, if the score is tied at the end of the full-time, extra time or a penalty shootout may be used to determine the winner.

However, the full-time score is still recorded as the official score of the match.

How is FT Used in Soccer?

During a soccer game, the clock counts up from zero and does not stop for injuries or other stoppages in play.

This means that the length of a soccer match can vary depending on the amount of time added on by the referee at the end of each half.

However, most soccer matches last around 90 minutes.

In addition to signaling the end of a match, FT can also be used to refer to the final scoreline.

For example, if a team wins 2-1, the final score would be recorded as “2-1 FT”. This is useful for keeping track of results and for betting purposes.

Full Time (FT) vs Extra Time (ET) in Soccer

In soccer, FT stands for “Full Time,” while ET stands for “Extra Time.” There’s a difference.

FT happens before ET.

During a soccer game, if the score is tied full-time, the game may go into extra time.

If the score is still tied at the end of extra time, the game may go into a penalty shootout to determine the winner.

Full-Time in Tournaments

In some soccer tournaments, such as the World Cup or the Champions League, matches that end in a tie after 90 minutes of play may go into extra time or a penalty shootout to determine the winner.

In these cases, the FT abbreviation is still used to indicate the end of the initial 90 minutes of play.

Understanding the soccer term above and more can really help you understand the game better. I’ll continue to crank out these articles to help parents better understand the game!