Nations Grid

How to play the Nations Grid

It's the football grid with a twist: the rows are clubs and the columns are nationalities. To claim a cell, name a player of that nationality who played for that club.

1. Each cell sits where a club (row) meets a country (column).
2. To claim it, type a player who is from that country and played for that club — for example Arsenal × France could be Thierry Henry.
3. Playing solo? Fill in as many of the nine cells as you can.
4. Two-player hot-seat? Take turns on one device and line up three cells in a row — across, down or diagonally — to win, just like noughts and crosses.

The football behind it: nationality × club

Mixing clubs with nationalities opens up a different kind of memory test. Some cells are gimmes — a club's most famous export from a big footballing nation. Others are delightfully awkward: which player from that country ever turned out for that club? It rewards knowing squads deeply, not just the superstars.

Frequently asked questions

Which nationality counts?

We use each player's football nationality (the country they are eligible to represent), so home nations like England, Scotland and Wales are treated separately rather than as “United Kingdom”.

Can I use any matching player?

Yes — any player of that nationality who is on record for that club is a valid answer, so there is often more than one correct choice per cell.

Where does the data come from?

Player nationalities and club histories come from Wikidata, an open knowledge base. It is extensive but incomplete, so a few genuine connections may be missing.