In soccer, commonly referred to as football in many parts of the world, “OT” typically stands for “overtime” or “extra time.” While some sports, such as basketball and American football, include overtime periods to break ties, soccer has a different approach to resolving matches that end in a tie during regulation time.

In soccer, if a match ends in a tie during regular play (typically 90 minutes), the result stands as a draw. Yet, in knockout competitions such as the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup or domestic cup competitions, if a match ends in a tie, extra time may be played to determine a winner.

During extra time, two additional periods of 15 minutes each are played, with teams switching ends at the halfway point. If the score remains tied after extra time, the match may be decided by a penalty shootout, where each team takes turns attempting penalty kicks to determine the winner.

The absence of regular overtime periods in soccer matches outside of knockout competitions is largely due to the sport’s tradition and the nature of its gameplay. Soccer matches are typically played in two halves of 45 minutes each, with a brief halftime interval. This format has been standard for many years and is deeply ingrained in the sport’s culture and structure.

Also, soccer is a physically demanding sport, and players’ stamina and energy levels can significantly affect their performance. Playing additional full periods of overtime could increase the risk of fatigue-related injuries and may not be practical for regular league matches, where teams often have congested schedules.

Overall, while soccer does not have regular overtime periods like some other sports, extra time and penalty shootouts are used in specific situations, such as knockout competitions, to determine a winner when matches end in a tie after regulation time.