Daily football quiz
Football quiz #15: the answers
26 October 2026. Five questions, easy to hard.
Question 1
For a goal to count, how much of the ball must cross the goal line?
- ▫️ Any part of the ball
- ▫️ Half the ball
- ✅ The whole ball
- ▫️ Most of the ball
Even a ball that is a fraction over the line but not fully across is not a goal.
Question 2
At a kick-off, which way must the ball be kicked?
- ▫️ Forwards
- ▫️ Backwards
- ▫️ Sideways only
- ✅ Any direction
Since 2016 the ball just has to be kicked and clearly move, so it can go backwards.
Question 3
How far does the penalty area extend from each goalpost and into the pitch?
- ▫️ 11 metres (12 yards)
- ✅ 16.5 metres (18 yards)
- ▫️ 5.5 metres (6 yards)
- ▫️ 20 metres (22 yards)
The six-yard box is 5.5 m; the larger penalty area is 16.5 m, or 18 yards.
Question 4
How close may attackers stand to a defensive wall of three or more players at a free kick?
- ▫️ No closer than 9.15 metres
- ▫️ As close as they like
- ✅ No closer than 1 metre
- ▫️ No closer than 2 metres
The 1-metre rule came in during 2019 to stop jostling in the wall.
Question 5
What is the maximum width allowed for the pitch markings?
- ✅ 12 cm
- ▫️ 8 cm
- ▫️ 15 cm
- ▫️ 10 cm
Law 1 caps lines at 12 cm (5 inches), and the goal lines must match the width of the posts and crossbar.
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