Quick answer
et in soccer is short for extra time, the added period played after 90 minutes when a knockout match is still tied. Fans often see ET on scoreboards or in match reports and wonder what it means and how it changes the contest.
Table of Contents
What Does et in Soccer Mean?
The phrase et in soccer stands for extra time, a fixed additional period used to determine a winner when a cup or knockout match is tied after normal time. Extra time normally consists of two halves, usually 15 minutes each, played in full unless competition rules state otherwise.
ET is not the same as stoppage time. Stoppage time, sometimes called injury time, is tacked onto each half to compensate for delays, while et in soccer is a separate phase that begins only after the 90 minutes plus stoppage time have finished and the fixture still has no winner.
Etymology and Origin of et
The abbreviation ET comes from the phrase extra time, a plain-English term that dates back to early organized sports and shorthand scoring. The idea of adding time to produce a result evolved as tournaments moved away from replays, which had been the older method to resolve ties.
Historically, competitions like the FA Cup sometimes used replayed matches rather than extra time and penalty shootouts. Over the 20th century, organizers began to prefer finishing ties on the same day, so et in soccer became more common in cup ties and international knockouts.
How et Is Used in Everyday Language
“The match went to ET after a 1-1 draw in normal time, and the winner scored in the 105th minute.”
“Keep an eye on the scoreboard; ET is kicking in if they don’t break the deadlock.”
“That extra time goal is classic pressure football, all decided in ET and penalties.”
“TV listings said ‘cup final: 90 mins + ET’, so expect at least 120 minutes of play.”
et in Soccer in Different Contexts
In formal competition rules, et in soccer is described precisely, including length, substitution allowances, and whether the match goes to penalties afterward. Tournament organizers set these rules, and they appear in competition regulations or the Laws of the Game published by IFAB.
Informally, fans and commentators use ET as shorthand. On social media a post might read “ET looming” to signal that the regular 90 minutes ended level, or a live ticker might show ET next to the scoreboard to indicate extra time is underway.
There are also technical contexts. Some broadcasters display “ET” when extra time starts, while statisticians tag events that happen in extra time differently from those in normal or stoppage time.
Common Misconceptions About et
A frequent error is confusing et in soccer with stoppage time or injury time. People hear extra time and assume it is the same padding referees add during each half. It is not. ET starts after the final whistle when the match must produce a winner.
Another misconception is that extra time always occurs. Many matches, such as league fixtures, end in draws and do not go to ET. Extra time is mainly a knockout tool, used in cup competitions and tournaments that require a decisive outcome.
Related Words and Phrases
Extra time sits in a family with terms like penalty shootout, golden goal, and stoppage time. Golden goal used to end matches immediately when a team scored in extra time, but it has largely fallen out of favor because it favored sudden endings over full extra periods.
For readers curious about similar terms, see this Wikipedia page on extra time and the official IFAB resources on match procedures at IFAB. For a concise dictionary-style definition, Merriam-Webster covers ‘extra time’ too at Merriam-Webster.
Learn more context on our site: extra time meaning, soccer terminology, and overtime vs extra time.
Why et Matters in 2026
Competition formats keep evolving, but et in soccer remains a decisive tool when organizers want to settle a tie on the pitch rather than by a replay. With tournament scheduling tightened and broadcast windows fixed, the choice to use extra time can affect player workload and TV schedules.
Player welfare rules now influence whether competitions permit extra time or move straight to penalties. That debate has grown louder, making the meaning and implications of et in soccer important for fans, coaches, and regulators alike.
Closing
So when you see ET on a scoreboard, you now know it means extra time, the set of minutes used to produce a winner after a tie. Short, practical, and sometimes dramatic. Want a tighter definition or example from a famous match? The 2014 World Cup final, where Mario Götze scored in extra time to win the title for Germany, is a perfect real-world ET moment.
For concise definitions and other sports terms visit our related entries, and check official rules on IFAB or competition pages when you need the exact competition-specific details.
External references: Extra time on Wikipedia, IFAB Laws of the Game, Merriam-Webster extra time.