The Case of the Missing World Cup
The championship match is about to start, but the famous Golden Cup has been stolen! The team manager found a mysterious note on the locker room whiteboard. The Soccer Saboteur has hidden the trophy, and only the best detective can crack the clues to find which star player took it before the whistle blows!
Possible suspects
Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.
| Name | Signature Kick | Lucky Gear | Dominant Foot | Hairstyle | Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erling Haaland | Knuckleball | Smart Watch | Right Footed | Curly Locks | Bright Camera Flash |
| Kylian Mbappe | Rainbow Flick | Smart Watch | Right Footed | Sleek Ponytail | Bright Camera Flash |
| Bukayo Saka | Rainbow Flick | Neon Shinguards | Right Footed | Curly Locks | Loud Whistle |
| Jude Bellingham | Rainbow Flick | Neon Shinguards | Left Footed | Spiky Hair | Slippery Grass |
| Kevin De Bruyne | Bicycle Kick | Grip Gloves | Left Footed | Spiky Hair | Loud Whistle |
| Sam Kerr | Power Header | Golden Cleats | Right Footed | Spiky Hair | Bright Camera Flash |
| Alex Morgan | Rainbow Flick | Neon Shinguards | Left Footed | Sleek Ponytail | Slippery Grass |
| Mohamed Salah | Power Header | Grip Gloves | Right Footed | Curly Locks | Bright Camera Flash |
| Lucy Bronze | Rainbow Flick | Smart Watch | Left Footed | Curly Locks | Slippery Grass |
| Virgil van Dijk | Curving Freekick | Lucky Wristband | Left Footed | Curly Locks | Slippery Grass |
| Manuel Neuer | Rainbow Flick | Golden Cleats | Right Footed | Curly Locks | Bright Camera Flash |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Knuckleball | Neon Shinguards | Left Footed | Curly Locks | Bright Camera Flash |
| Luka Modric | Knuckleball | Golden Cleats | Right Footed | Spiky Hair | Slippery Grass |
| Lionel Messi | Bicycle Kick | Grip Gloves | Right Footed | Spiky Hair | Loud Whistle |
| Antoine Griezmann | Power Header | Neon Shinguards | Right Footed | Sleek Ponytail | Slippery Grass |
| Christian Pulisic | Curving Freekick | Grip Gloves | Right Footed | Curly Locks | Bright Camera Flash |
| Marta | Power Header | Smart Watch | Right Footed | Curly Locks | Bright Camera Flash |
| Luis Suarez | Power Header | Lucky Wristband | Right Footed | Curly Locks | Loud Whistle |
| Neymar Jr | Bicycle Kick | Grip Gloves | Left Footed | Spiky Hair | Slippery Grass |
| Bruno Fernandes | Power Header | Lucky Wristband | Right Footed | Curly Locks | Bright Camera Flash |
| Robert Lewandowski | Curving Freekick | Lucky Wristband | Right Footed | Spiky Hair | Bright Camera Flash |
Rounding
The electronic security tracker shows how fast the thief ran, but the digital display is glitching and only shows the speed rounded to the nearest ten!
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Addition
We found piles of training cones scattered across the practice pitch. Let us add up all the green and yellow cones to find the hidden locker number!
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Subtraction
The referee checked the bin of game balls and noticed some were missing. Subtracting the remaining balls from the starting total reveals the thief's secret trail!
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The stadium grandstand seats are arranged in perfect rows. Multiplying the number of rows by the seats in each row points us to where the suspect dropped a clue!
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We found a box of energy sports drinks left behind. If we divide the drinks equally among the starting lineup, the leftover amount will unlock the next file!
First solve each problem. Then find each answer in the list below and cross that sentence out. One sentence will be left — that's exactly what the villain did!
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Missing World Cup
- Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE SUSPECT DOES NOT WEAR GRIP GLOVES"Round 8,502 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (T) · Round 4,882 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (C) · Round 403 to the nearest hundred = 400 (D) · Round 6,046 to the nearest thousand = 6000 (V) · Round 847 to the nearest hundred = 800 (G) · Round 64 to the nearest ten = 60 (N) · Round 42 to the nearest ten = 40 (H) · Round 576 to the nearest hundred = 600 (I) · Round 535 to the nearest hundred = 500 (E) · Round 92 to the nearest ten = 90 (R) · Round 2,156 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (A) · Round 53 to the nearest ten = 50 (W) · Round 865 to the nearest hundred = 900 (U) · Round 7,712 to the nearest thousand = 8000 (S) · Round 341 to the nearest hundred = 300 (O) · Round 22 to the nearest ten = 20 (L) · Round 28 to the nearest ten = 30 (P)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "THE SUSPECT KICKS WITH THE RIGHT FOOT"321 + 412 = 733 (T) · 182 + 137 = 319 (S) · 377 + 286 = 663 (W) · 156 + 348 = 504 (G) · 219 + 196 = 415 (O) · 267 + 612 = 879 (I) · 227 + 183 = 410 (C) · 325 + 262 = 587 (E) · 423 + 521 = 944 (H) · 237 + 174 = 411 (R) · 403 + 321 = 724 (F) · 296 + 522 = 818 (P) · 492 + 334 = 826 (K) · 287 + 503 = 790 (U)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "A BRIGHT CAMERA FLASH BLINDS THE SUSPECT"789 - 148 = 641 (A) · 843 - 314 = 529 (M) · 770 - 138 = 632 (D) · 531 - 126 = 405 (T) · 507 - 162 = 345 (G) · 620 - 218 = 402 (C) · 424 - 126 = 298 (U) · 1250 - 371 = 879 (B) · 718 - 20 = 698 (I) · 782 - 293 = 489 (P) · 675 - 2 = 673 (R) · 1264 - 396 = 868 (H) · 748 - 121 = 627 (L) · 873 - 166 = 707 (N) · 796 - 248 = 548 (S) · 1052 - 313 = 739 (F) · 885 - 374 = 511 (E)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "WE FOUND CURLY HAIR ON THE TURF"12 × 9 = 108 (W) · 10 × 10 = 100 (F) · 4 × 11 = 44 (O) · 8 × 5 = 40 (E) · 8 × 9 = 72 (A) · 11 × 12 = 132 (I) · 11 × 3 = 33 (H) · 7 × 3 = 21 (R) · 2 × 11 = 22 (D) · 5 × 10 = 50 (T) · 11 × 11 = 121 (Y) · 8 × 8 = 64 (C) · 6 × 5 = 30 (N) · 9 × 10 = 90 (U) · 7 × 6 = 42 (L)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 10) → Bruno Fernandes108 ÷ 9 = 12 · 9 ÷ 9 = 1 · 35 ÷ 7 = 5 · 72 ÷ 9 = 8 · 7 ÷ 1 = 7 · 55 ÷ 5 = 11 · 48 ÷ 8 = 6 · 24 ÷ 8 = 3 · 44 ÷ 11 = 4 · 99 ÷ 11 = 9 · 6 ÷ 3 = 2
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Case of the Missing World Cup — set in Luzhniki Stadium
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects