MLS + EPL
soccer rules.
Before the jargon, the actual structure: how points happen, how long you're committing to, and why the scoreboard barely moves. Six questions, plain answers.
How is soccer scored?
One point per goal. The whole ball has to fully cross the goal line, between the posts and under the crossbar, for it to count. There's no partial credit and no style points, just whether the ball got all the way in.
How long is a soccer match?
Two 45-minute halves, 90 minutes total. Unlike most American sports, the clock never actually stops during play, which is why the running time stays fairly close to the real 90 minutes. The referee tacks on a few minutes of stoppage time at the end of each half to make up for stops along the way.
Why does soccer have so few goals?
Soccer doesn't have discrete “plays” like most American sports, it's 90 continuous minutes, and over that stretch defense structurally has the advantage. A single moment of individual brilliance or a well-executed set piece is often what decides a match, not a steady accumulation of scores. A 1-0 result, or even 0-0, is a completely normal outcome, and often a genuinely tense one, not a sign that nothing happened.
Ballbot explains this stuff live, mid-game, in your group chat.
Save my seat →What happens if a soccer match ends in a tie?
In regular league play, a tied game after 90 minutes simply ends as a draw. Both teams get a share of points for the standings and the season moves on, no extra time needed. That surprises a lot of fans coming from American leagues, where ties are rare or don't exist at all. Knockout cup matches play by different rules, see below.
What happens if a knockout match is tied?
In most cup competitions, a game tied after 90 minutes goes to two 15-minute periods of extra time, then a penalty shootout if it's still level, players taking alternating individual kicks until a winner is decided. MLS playoffs handle this differently by round: the earlier rounds skip extra time entirely and go straight to penalties, while the later rounds (conference finals and MLS Cup) do use the full extra-time format.
What do yellow and red cards mean?
A yellow card is a formal caution. Two yellows in one match automatically add up to a red card. A red card, whether given directly or through two yellows, means immediate ejection, and that team has to play the rest of the match with one fewer player on the field, a real disadvantage over 90 minutes.
Other sports
Want the jargon too? The soccer glossarycovers the terms you'll hear once you already know how the game works.
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Hail Mary explains exactly this stuff live during the game, in your group chat. iOS, summer 2026.
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