Average Actual Playing Time
I compiled the data from all of the match reports from the FIFA 2010 World Cup into a spreadsheet. Here’s what I found in terms of Actual Playing Time:
In the average 90-minute match at the 2010 World Cup, the average actual playing time in a match that had a winner was 68.0 minutes. The average actual playing time for matches that ended in a draw was 67.2 minutes, a difference of less than one minute.
What’s this mean? Well, a couple things. First, these APT calculations INCLUDE the stoppage time, so even when the referee adds in time to a match, teams generally play 22-23 minutes less than the “full 90.” Second, the consistency between APT during matches with a winner and those ending in a draw is surprising. It suggests that regardless of the score, there can be incentives for time wasting.
US Soccer by the Numbers 
Even though this blog was written a long time ago, (A European Championship, and many new EPL managers later) I have just stumbled on it, and am very happy to have done so. I am really into the stats behind soccer, so this post explaining the amount of actual playing time in the last World Cup was great. It also got me thinking, will it be less this year, now that the tournament will be held in a much more tropical climate of Brazil? I am predicting 63 minutes average playing time!