Soccer vs Basketball
4 billion fans worldwide vs 30-foot half-court shots
â― 4 billion fans worldwide
ð Invented with a peach basket
ðĄ A soccer ball travels about 7 miles during an average pro match
BOOK 6 OF 6
This vs That: Sports ShowdownThe ultimate arena
15 sports-vs-sports battles from Soccer vs Basketball to Swimming vs Running. Real records, legendary stats, and locker room debates.
All 15 Matchups
What's Inside Sports Showdown
Every matchup comes with real stats, mind-blowing facts, and a vote checkbox. Here's the full lineup.
Football vs Rugby
$18 billion NFL industry vs the sport that inspired it â no pads
ð NFL: $18 billion revenue
ð No pads, no helmets
ðĄ The original footballs were made from inflated pig bladders
F1 vs MotoGP
230 mph with 1,000 HP vs 220 mph on two wheels with no seatbelt
ðïļ 0 to 60: under 2 seconds
ðïļ Lean angles up to 64°
ðĄ F1 cars produce enough downforce to drive upside down on a ceiling
Boxing vs MMA
The sweet science with 12,000 years of history vs anything-goes combat
ðĨ 12,000+ years of history
ðĪž Combines 8+ martial arts
ðĄ Ali's hands were so fast cameras sometimes couldn't capture his punches
Swimming vs Running
Phelps' 23 Olympic golds vs Bolt's 9.58-second 100m
ð 23 Olympic golds (Phelps)
ð 9.58s 100m (Bolt)
ðĄ Humans are one of the few animals that can't naturally swim at birth
Tennis vs Badminton
163 mph serves vs 306 mph smashes â fastest racket sport alive
ðū Fastest serve: 163 mph
ðļ Fastest smash: 306 mph
ðĄ Shuttlecocks use 16 goose feathers from the left wing only
Baseball vs Cricket
America's pastime vs 2.5 billion fans worldwide
âū 162 games per MLB season
ð 2.5 billion fans globally
ðĄ The longest baseball game ever lasted 8 hours and 25 minutes
Weightlifting vs Gymnastics
1,105 lbs deadlifted vs defying gravity with a perfect 10
ðïļ Deadlift record: 1,105 lbs
ðĪļ Nadia's perfect 10 (1976)
ðĄ Gymnasts experience up to 16G of force on their wrists during landings
Skateboarding vs Surfing
1080-degree spins on concrete vs riding 80-foot ocean walls
ðđ First 1080: Schaar (2012)
ð Biggest wave: 86 ft
ðĄ First skateboards were wooden boxes with roller skate wheels nailed on
Ice Hockey vs Lacrosse
Pucks at 100+ mph on ice vs the oldest team sport in North America
ð Puck speed: 100+ mph
ðĨ Oldest sport in N. America
ðĄ Hockey pucks are frozen before games to reduce bouncing
Rock Climbing vs Scuba Diving
Scaling walls with fingertips vs exploring a world with no gravity
ð§ Free solo: no ropes
ðĪŋ Record: 1,090 ft deep
ðĄ Alex Honnold free soloed El Capitan â 3,000 feet with no rope
Horse Racing vs Dog Racing
2-minute races with 1,000-lb athletes vs 45 mph greyhounds
ð Top speed: 44 mph
ð Greyhound: 45 mph
ðĄ Racehorses can start running within hours of being born
Volleyball vs Ping Pong
Spikes at 80 mph over a 7-foot net vs most popular recreational sport
ð Spike speed: 80+ mph
ð Most played sport globally
ðĄ Ping pong balls travel off the paddle at up to 70 mph
Skiing vs Snowboarding
5,000-year-old transportation vs the rebel sport that crashed the Olympics
â·ïļ Speed record: 157 mph
ð Added to Olympics 1998
ðĄ Ancient skis found in Russia date back to 6000 BC
Fencing vs Archery
230 mph blade tips with 15ms reaction time vs Olympic arrows at 150 mph
ðĪš Blade tip: 230 mph
ðđ Arrow speed: 150 mph
ðĄ Fencing is one of only 5 sports featured in every modern Olympics
FAQ
Quick Answers
What age is this book for?
Written for curious minds of all ages. The facts and debates work great for family conversations â readers from 6 to 60+ love it.
Are the facts actually real?
Every single stat and fact is researched and fact-checked. We cite real data for every matchup.
Is there a winner for each matchup?
Nope â you decide. We give you the stats and facts for both sides with a vote checkbox at the end. There's no "right" answer.
How many books are in the series?
Six! Each with 15 unique matchups: Ultimate Showdown, Animal Kingdom, Gross & Weird, Food Fight, Science Smackdown, and Sports Showdown. 90 total matchups.
Is there a YouTube channel?
Yes! Every matchup gets an animated video breakdown with stats, facts, and a community vote. Subscribe to This vs That on YouTube.
The Full Series
Explore All 6 Books
Each book has a different theme, 15 unique matchups, and zero overlap.
Book 1
Ultimate Showdown
Sharks vs Dinosaurs, Pizza vs Tacos, Ninjas vs Pirates
See all 15 matchups â
Book 2
Animal Kingdom
Lion vs Tiger, Great White vs Orca, Honey Badger vs Wolverine
See all 15 matchups â
Book 3
Gross & Weird
Burps vs Farts, Cockroach vs Fly, Zombie Ants vs Vampire Bats
See all 15 matchups â
Book 4
Food Fight
Chocolate vs Vanilla, Pancakes vs Waffles, Hot Dogs vs Hamburgers
See all 15 matchups â
Book 5
Science Smackdown
Black Holes vs Supernovas, Robots vs AI, Volcanoes vs Earthquakes
See all 15 matchups â