How the Game Works
The daily brain‑teaser Connections: Soccer Edition, launched in the run‑up to the 2026 World Cup, challenges players to sort a grid of sixteen words into four distinct groups of four, each sharing a hidden commonality.
Players may make up to three incorrect selections before the puzzle ends, but every puzzle is designed to have a single, definitive solution that can be uncovered with careful reasoning.
Today's Hints
For today’s June 20, 2026 edition, the clues are colour‑coded: the yellow group revolves around post‑game recovery, the green category points to nations that have previously hosted the World Cup, the blue set highlights English‑scoring heroes from past tournaments, and the purple theme is tied to interim coaches who have temporarily taken charge of Chelsea.
The Solution
The complete answer reveals that the yellow quartet consists of Post‑game recovery, ICE BATH, MASSAGE, WARM DOWN, REST; the green quartet includes Hosted World Cup, SPAIN, MEXICO, CHILE, JAPAN; the blue quartet is made up of Scored for England at World Cup, RASHFORD, LINEKER, TRIPPIER, BELLINGHAM; and the purple group comprises Chelsea caretaker head coaches, LAMPARD, HOLLAND, HIDDINK, MCFARLANE.
Behind the Puzzle
Will Jeanes, a senior editor at The Athletic, is the mind behind this soccer‑centric twist on the classic Connections format. His writing often blends statistical insight with historical perspective, making the puzzle both entertaining and educational for football enthusiasts.
Fans are encouraged to post their scores in the comments and to return at midnight in their local time zone for the next daily challenge.