Every day at midnight, a new puzzle arrives, giving soccer enthusiasts a fresh chance to flex their knowledge of the beautiful game. The latest edition, Puzzle No. 31, is timed to build excitement ahead of the 2026 World Cup, the tournament that will bring together nations from every continent.
Today's Clues
The game asks players to sort sixteen words or objects into four groups of four, each set sharing a hidden connection. Players may make up to three mistakes before the puzzle ends, and each puzzle is designed to have a single, definitive solution. The difficulty scales from easy, marked by a yellow category, to medium (green), challenging (blue) and finally difficult (purple).
For today’s puzzle, the hints are as follows: the yellow group revolves around terms that describe why a player might be absent from a match, the green group points to stadiums that have hosted a Champions League final, the blue group is built around a word that precedes "Cup" in well‑known competitions, and the purple group involves homophones of 2026 World Cup scorers.
Full Solution
The complete answers correspond to the four categories: Yellow – INJURED, SUSPENDED, DROPPED, CUP‑TIED; Green – ALLIANZ, OLYMPIC, MILLENNIUM, HAMPDEN; Blue – FA, WORLD, MLS, SUPER; Purple – MESSY, CANE, SERMON, NOOSA. Each term fits neatly into its respective theme, completing the puzzle without ambiguity.
The Mind Behind the Game
Will Jeanes, a senior editor at The Athletic who specializes in soccer history and statistics, crafts these daily challenges. His deep dive into the sport’s lore enables him to embed subtle references that reward both casual fans and hardcore analysts alike.
The Athletic will roll out a fresh puzzle each day, resetting at midnight in the player’s local time zone. Fans are encouraged to share their scores and discuss strategies, turning the game into a communal ritual as the World Cup draws nearer.