San Jose Earthquakes Trivia
San Jose Earthquakes trivia explores the history, identity, and memorable moments of the American professional soccer club based in San Jose, California. A member of Major League Soccerâs Western Conference, the Earthquakes have been part of the leagueâs story across multiple eras, giving fans plenty to recognize, recall, and debate.
Easy San Jose Earthquakes Trivia
13 questions
These easy San Jose Earthquakes trivia questions are great for beginners and kids around age 12 and under.
Question 1
In which California city are the San Jose Earthquakes based?
- A.Sacramento
- B.Oakland
- C.San Diego
- D.San Jose
Answer: San Jose
The San Jose Earthquakes are based in San Jose, California.
Question 2
What league do the San Jose Earthquakes play in?
- A.MLS
- B.NBA
- C.WNBA
- D.NFL
Answer: Major League Soccer
The Earthquakes play in Major League Soccer.
Question 3
Which conference do the Earthquakes compete in within MLS?
- A.Pacific Conference
- B.Western Conference
- C.Eastern Conference
- D.Central Conference
Answer: Western Conference
San Jose competes in MLS's Western Conference.
Question 4
What is the name of the San Jose Earthquakes' home stadium?
- A.PayPal Park
- B.Stanford Stadium
- C.Levi's Stadium
- D.Avaya Field
Answer: PayPal Park
The club's home stadium is PayPal Park.
Question 5
What is the team's common nickname?
- A.Quakes
- B.Sharks
- C.Strikers
- D.Giants
Answer: Quakes
The team's common nickname is the Quakes.
Question 6
Which club was one of MLS's original teams?
- A.LA Galaxy
- B.Chicago Fire
- C.Seattle Sounders
- D.San Jose Earthquakes
Answer: San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose was among the original MLS clubs when the league began in 1996. That context fits the Earthquakes rather than the later expansion teams listed here.
Question 7
What year did the Earthquakes begin MLS play?
- A.2001
- B.1996
- C.1994
- D.1998
Answer: 1996
The Earthquakes began MLS play in 1996.
Question 8
In what year did San Jose win its first MLS Cup listed here?
- A.2003
- B.2005
- C.2001
- D.1999
Answer: 2001
San Jose won the MLS Cup in 2001.
Question 9
San Jose won another MLS Cup two years after 2001. What year was it?
- A.2005
- B.2003
- C.2002
- D.2004
Answer: 2003
San Jose won the MLS Cup again in 2003.
Question 10
In which year did San Jose win its second Supporters' Shield?
- A.2008
- B.2010
- C.2014
- D.2012
Answer: 2012
San Jose won a second Supporters' Shield in 2012.
Question 11
Which star striker is strongly associated with the Earthquakes?
- A.Landon Donovan
- B.David Beckham
- C.Clint Dempsey
- D.Chris Wondolowski
Answer: Chris Wondolowski
Chris Wondolowski is strongly associated with the Earthquakes is a star striker.
Question 12
Which team is San Jose's main California rival?
- A.Sacramento Republic
- B.Seattle Sounders FC
- C.LA Galaxy
- D.Los Angeles FC
Answer: LA Galaxy
The Earthquakes' main California rival is the LA Galaxy.
Question 13
What is the name of the rivalry match between San Jose and LA Galaxy?
- A.California Cl
- B.El TrĂĄfico
- C.Cascadia Cup
- D.Hell Is Real
Answer: California ClĂĄsico
Matches between San Jose and LA Galaxy are called the California ClĂĄsico.
San Jose Earthquakes Family Trivia
12 questions
These family San Jose Earthquakes trivia questions are built for mixed-age game nights, classrooms, and groups.
Question 1
What is the name of the San Jose Earthquakes mascot?
Answer: Q
The Earthquakes mascot is named Q.
Question 2
Q, the Earthquakes mascot, is what kind of animal?
- A.A gold eagle
- B.blue dog
- C.A green cat
Answer: A blue dog
Q is a blue dog mascot for the Earthquakes.
Question 3
In what year did Chris Wondolowski win the MLS Golden Boot with San Jose?
Answer: 2010
Chris Wondolowski won the MLS Golden Boot in 2010 while with San Jose.
Question 4
How many league goals did Chris Wondolowski score in 2012 to tie the MLS single-season record at the time?
Answer: 27 goals
In 2012, Wondolowski scored 27 league goals, tying the MLS single-season record at the time.
Question 5
The Earthquakes set an MLS record in 2012 by scoring how many game-winning goals after the 80th minute?
Answer: 14 late game-winning goals
San Jose set an MLS record with 14 game-winning goals after the 80th minute in 2012.
Question 6
What year did PayPal Park open?
Answer: 2015
PayPal Park opened in 2015.
Question 7
Before PayPal Park, where did San Jose play its home games?
Answer: Buck Shaw Stadium
Before moving into PayPal Park, San Jose played home games at Buck Shaw Stadium.
Question 8
San Jose used Buck Shaw Stadium starting in what year?
Answer: 2008
The Earthquakes used Buck Shaw Stadium from 2008 through 2014.
Question 9
Buck Shaw Stadium is located on the campus of which university?
- A.San Jose State University
- B.Stanford University
- C.University of California, Berkeley
- D.Santa Clara University
Answer: Santa Clara University
Buck Shaw Stadium is on the campus of Santa Clara University.
Question 10
Which goalkeeper was on both of San Jose's MLS Cup-winning teams?
Answer: Joe Cannon
Joe Cannon was San Jose's goalkeeper on both MLS Cup-winning teams.
Question 11
Which star player appeared for the Earthquakes in both their 2001 and 2003 championship seasons?
Answer: Landon Donovan
Landon Donovan played for the Earthquakes during their 2001 and 2003 championship seasons.
Question 12
Who scored the golden goal that won MLS Cup 2001 for San Jose?
Answer: Dwayne De Rosario
Dwayne De Rosario scored the golden goal that won MLS Cup 2001 for San Jose.
Fun San Jose Earthquakes Trivia
12 questions
These fun San Jose Earthquakes trivia questions highlight surprising moments and playful facts for game-night groups.
Question 1
What was the final aggregate score when San Jose completed its wild 2003 playoff comeback against the LA Galaxy?
Answer: San Jose won 5-4 on aggregate.
The 2003 Earthquakes erased a 4-0 aggregate deficit and advanced with a 5-4 aggregate win over the Galaxy.
Question 2
The legendary 2003 San Jose playoff rally is commonly nicknamed the Miracle at which stadium?
- A.Buck Shaw Stadium
- B.Levi's Stadium
- C.Spartan Stadium
- D.Stanford Stadium
Answer: Spartan Stadium
That famous comeback is often called the Miracle at Spartan Stadium.
Question 3
Who was the first player San Jose selected in the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft?
Answer: Dejan StankoviÄ
San Jose, then the Clash, used its first 1996 Inaugural Player Draft selection on Dejan StankoviÄ.
Question 4
Who scored the very first goal in San Jose Clash history?
Answer: Eric Wynalda
Eric Wynalda scored the first goal in San Jose Clash history.
Question 5
On what date did the Clash win the first game in MLS history?
Answer: April 6, 1996
San Jose beat D.C. United 1-0 on April 6, 1996, in the league's first-ever match.
Question 6
Which two cult-hero forwards were beloved by San Jose fans during the 2012 season?
Answer: Steven Lenhart and Alan Gordon
Steven Lenhart and Alan Gordon were fan favorites on San Jose's 2012 team.
Question 7
What nickname did San Jose fans use for Steven Lenhart and Alan Gordon?
Answer: The Bash Brothers
Lenhart and Gordon were nicknamed 'The Bash Brothers' in San Jose.
Question 8
Chris Wondolowski hit the same regular-season goal total again for San Jose in what year?
Answer: 2011
Wondolowski scored 18 regular-season goals again for San Jose in 2011.
Question 9
How many points did San Jose post in its record-setting 2012 regular season?
Answer: 66 points
The Earthquakes set a club record with 66 points in the 2012 regular season.
Question 10
Who scored the first regular-season goal at San Jose's new stadium in 2015?
Answer: Fatai Alashe
Fatai Alashe scored the first regular-season goal at the Earthquakes' new stadium in 2015.
Question 11
Before they were the Earthquakes in MLS, what one-word name did San Jose use?
Answer: Clash
The club's first MLS-era identity used the name 'Clash' rather than 'Earthquakes.'.
Question 12
Fill in the famous phrase: 'Miracle at ______ Stadium.'?
- A.Spartan
- B.Stanford
- C.Buck Shaw
- D.PayPal
Answer: Spartan
The 2003 playoff comeback is commonly known is the Miracle at Spartan Stadium.
Funny San Jose Earthquakes Trivia
11 questions
These funny San Jose Earthquakes trivia questions highlight playful moments, odd facts, and inside jokes.
Question 1
What letter does mascot Q wear on the giant jersey, just in case anyone forgets who Q is?
Answer: Q
The Earthquakes' mascot Q wears a giant jersey with the letter Q on it.
Question 2
San Jose's mascot Q is dressed in a giant jersey marked with what single letter?
Answer: Q
Q's oversized jersey features the letter Q.
Question 3
Which team name sounds especially on-brand for shaky scorelines and wild comebacks?
- A.Timbers
- B.Rapids
- C.Earthquakes
- D.Galaxy
Answer: Earthquakes
'Earthquakes' is a natural fit for shaky scorelines and wild comebacks.
Question 4
The unofficial phrase inspired by San Jose's 2012 season was what movie-flavored rally cry?
Answer: Goonies never say die
San Jose's 2012 season inspired the unofficial phrase 'Goonies never say die' around the team.
Question 5
Finish the unofficial 2012 Earthquakes phrase: 'Goonies never say ___.''?
- A.die
- B.quit
- C.late
- D.defeat
Answer: die
The phrase associated with the 2012 team was 'Goonies never say die.'.
Question 6
In 2012, San Jose's reputation for late winners helped earn them what nickname?
- A.Earthmovers
- B.Cup Chasers
- C.Road Runners
- D.Goonies
Answer: Goonies
Their habit of scoring late winners in 2012 led to the 'Goonies' label.
Question 7
Which player scored several famous late goals during the 2012 'Goonies' run, basically specializing in dramatic timing?
Answer: Alan Gordon
Alan Gordon scored several famous late goals for San Jose during the 2012 'Goonies' run.
Question 8
Lenhart and Gordon were nicknamed the what, borrowing from a famous baseball nickname?
Answer: Bash Brothers
Lenhart and Gordon's 'Bash Brothers' nickname was borrowed from a famous baseball nickname.
Question 9
Despite the name Earthquakes, what kind of mascot is Q?
- A.Dog
- B.A rock
- C.A seismograph
- D.A fault line
Answer: A dog
Q is a dog, which makes for a funny contrast with the team name.
Question 10
In the 2003 playoff comeback against LA, San Jose wiped out what size aggregate deficit?
Answer: A four-goal deficit
The 2003 playoff comeback against LA erased a four-goal aggregate deficit.
Question 11
How big was the aggregate hole in San Jose's 2003 playoff comeback against LA before the cartoon physics kicked in?
- A.Three goals
- B.Five goals
- C.Four goals
- D.Two goals
Answer: Four goals
It was a four-goal aggregate deficit.
Hard San Jose Earthquakes Trivia
13 questions
These hard San Jose Earthquakes trivia questions are for expert fans who want a real challenge.
Question 1
After the 2005 season, San Joseâs players and staff were shifted to a new MLS identity. What team did that relocated operation become in 2006?
Answer: Houston Dynamo
Following the 2005 season, the Earthquakes players and staff were moved to Houston, where the team became the Houston Dynamo in 2006.
Question 2
Name the MLS club that emerged from the post-2005 transfer of San Joseâs roster and staff.?
Answer: Houston Dynamo
After the 2005 season, San Joseâs players and staff were moved to Houston and became the Houston Dynamo in 2006.
Question 3
Who became the San Jose Earthquakesâ principal owner in 2007?
Answer: John Fisher
John Fisher became the Earthquakes' principal owner in 2007.
Question 4
In the Earthquakesâ ownership timeline, which individual took over as principal owner in 2007?
Answer: John Fisher
The listed fact identifies John Fisher is the clubâs principal owner beginning in 2007.
Question 5
Which head coach guided San Jose to both of its MLS Cup championships?
Answer: Frank Yallop
Frank Yallop coached San Jose to both of its MLS Cup titles.
Question 6
San Joseâs two MLS Cup wins share the same coach. Who was on the touchline for both title runs?
Answer: Frank Yallop
Both MLS Cup titles were won under coach Frank Yallop.
Question 7
In MLS Cup 2001, which Earthquakes player broke the ice with San Joseâs first goal?
Answer: Ronnie Ekelund
The opening San Jose goal in MLS Cup 2001 was scored by Ronnie Ekelund.
Question 8
What was the final scoreline and match condition when San Jose beat the Los Angeles Galaxy in MLS Cup 2001?
Answer: 2-1 after extra time
San Jose defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy 2-1 after extra time in MLS Cup 2001.
Question 9
At which venue was the 2003 MLS Cup final played?
Answer: The Home Depot Center
The 2003 MLS Cup final was played at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California.
Question 10
Carson, California hosted the 2003 MLS Cup final. Name the stadium.?
Answer: The Home Depot Center
The 2003 final took place at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California.
Question 11
Which San Jose player won MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2003?
Answer: Pat Onstad
Pat Onstad won the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award with San Jose in 2003.
Question 12
Name the Earthquakes goalkeeper who collected MLS Goalkeeper of the Year honors in 2003.?
Answer: Pat Onstad
The 2003 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award went to Pat Onstad while with San Jose.
Question 13
Which Earthquakes player earned MLS Rookie of the Year in 1998?
Answer: Wade Barrett
Wade Barrett won the MLS Rookie of the Year award with San Jose in 1998.
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