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The aim of this paper was to present the effect of the situational factors on the frequency and duration of stoppages in football matches. Material and methods. The course of the seven matches held in the final phase of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil was examined. The results of the observation were next subjected to statistical analysis. Results and conclusion. The outcomes of this study demonstrated that the frequency and duration of stoppages in football matches depended on the situational factors of the game. Fouls and scratches and throw-ins reduce the effective playing time the most as they cause stoppages most frequently. The longest average duration of stoppages is caused by such factors as other events, fouls and scratches. The 15-minute sequences of the matches vary significantly in respect of the number and duration of stoppages. In the last sequences of each half of the analyzed matches, the duration of stoppages was longer and the number of them was respectively higher. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]