🔎 World Cup 2026. Use real plaGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4SubtractionMultiplicationRoundingSkip countingMissing addends
The Golden Cup Caper
The World Cup 2026 trophy is missing! Just before the big final match, someone snuck onto the pitch and snatched the gold cup right off the pedestal. The Chief Groundskeeper found a messy trail of cleats and grass clippings leading away from the stadium lockers. Our soccer suspects are practicing on the fields. We need to solve the clues to find the Sneaky Striker before kickoff!
Suspects
Possible suspects
Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.
21 of 21 still in play
| Name | signature move | special gear | player division | hair style | game obstacle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aitana Bonmati | header goals | gold whistles | man | spikey hair | loud whistle |
| Sam Kerr | speed dribbling | magnetic shinguards | man | headband | yellow card |
| Alessia Russo | header goals | magnetic shinguards | man | spikey hair | loud whistle |
| Trinity Rodman | slide tackling | neon cleats | man | spikey hair | loud whistle |
| Alex Morgan | slide tackling | magnetic shinguards | man | dyed blonde | loud whistle |
| Vinicius Jr | bicycle kicks | stealth jerseys | woman | spikey hair | soggy pitch |
| Kylian Mbappe | header goals | magnetic shinguards | woman | headband | yellow card |
| Alphonso Davies | header goals | neon cleats | man | dyed blonde | loud whistle |
| Erling Haaland | bicycle kicks | thermal gloves | man | headband | loud whistle |
| Robert Lewandowski | bicycle kicks | magnetic shinguards | woman | headband | loud whistle |
| Lauren James | slide tackling | gold whistles | man | spikey hair | soggy pitch |
| Wendie Renard | diving saves | stealth jerseys | man | headband | soggy pitch |
| Harry Kane | header goals | gold whistles | man | spikey hair | soggy pitch |
| Sophia Smith | bicycle kicks | neon cleats | man | dyed blonde | loud whistle |
| Christian Pulisic | header goals | thermal gloves | woman | spikey hair | loud whistle |
| Lionel Messi | slide tackling | neon cleats | woman | headband | yellow card |
| Son Heungmin | header goals | neon cleats | woman | headband | loud whistle |
| Mohamed Salah | bicycle kicks | gold whistles | man | dyed blonde | loud whistle |
| Jude Bellingham | diving saves | thermal gloves | man | spikey hair | loud whistle |
| Luka Modric | speed dribbling | stealth jerseys | woman | spikey hair | yellow card |
| Yassine Bounou | header goals | thermal gloves | man | spikey hair | loud whistle |
Clue 1
Subtraction
The coach had a full bag of practice soccer balls, but some went missing during the heist. We subtracted the remaining balls from the starting total to find the missing number and unlock a locker room code.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
7600
2669
6141
T
7600
2669
5069
6141
5620
8054
2061
6141
7093
7702
2061
T
7600
2669
4814
8276
6141
7178
4814
3183
7702
6141
T
7600
5069
1236
7093
2669
5069
7702
3183
1619
4814
6538
8054
7093
9888 - 2288 =T
6094 - 2911 =G
11952 - 3676 =V
8817 - 2676 =E
8500 - 3686 =A
2098 - 862 =C
6704 - 4035 =H
9476 - 1774 =N
7343 - 165 =M
9114 - 4045 =I
10696 - 3603 =S
10461 - 4841 =F
6426 - 4365 =O
8889 - 835 =D
3346 - 1727 =U
8661 - 2123 =R
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The groundskeeper noticed the thief ran past the stadium seats. The seats are arranged in equal rows, so we multiplied the rows by the seats per row to calculate the row number where a clue was dropped.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
A
55
18
A
55
5
12
A
55
11
11
72
72
5
22
50
5
5
20
5
24
5 × 11 =A
3 × 8 =G
12 × 6 =E
9 × 2 =M
5 × 10 =U
2 × 6 =W
1 × 5 =N
2 × 11 =R
5 × 4 =I
11 × 1 =S
0/10 letters found
Clue 3
Rounding
The high-tech stadium speed camera clocked the running thief, but the radar screen only displays rounded numbers. We rounded the speed to the nearest ten to unlock the camera memory.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
50
20
500
T
50
20
700
500
3100000
140000
47000
280000
3100000
140000
2800
200000
47000
20000
2800
4700
70
300
20
700
500000
T
50
20000
500
Round 52 to the nearest tenT
Round 70 to the nearest tenD
Round 277 to the nearest hundredW
Round 144,421 to the nearest ten thousandR
Round 46,577 to the nearest thousandA
Round 499 to the nearest hundredE
Round 548,572 to the nearest hundred thousandS
Round 4,744 to the nearest hundredU
Round 24,592 to the nearest ten thousandL
Round 19 to the nearest tenH
Round 214,059 to the nearest hundred thousandM
Round 730 to the nearest hundredI
Round 2,841 to the nearest hundredO
Round 3,057,126 to the nearest hundred thousandF
Round 281,940 to the nearest ten thousandN
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Skip counting
A witness saw the thief jumping over the field cones. They skipped every third cone on the field, so we counted by threes to find the final cone they knocked over.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
W
27
30
110
21
18
28
6
16
20
140
39
30
25
40
45
140
80
16
45
60
20
36
30
16
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, ___, 30, 33W
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, ___, 18, 20S
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, ___, 45, 50H
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, ___, 21, 24U
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, ___, 90, 100R
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, ___, 120, 130F
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, ___, 30, 35Y
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, ___, 70, 80M
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, ___, 50, 55A
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, ___, 8, 10D
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, ___, 35, 40E
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, ___, 150, 160I
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, ___, 24, 27O
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, ___, 42, 45K
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, ___, 39, 42L
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, ___, 30, 32N
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, ___, 25, 30P
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Missing addends — the last clue
The security gate requires a target team score to open. We know the current score and just need the missing number that adds up to the winning total to get the last clue.
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!
Step 1 — solve these
18 + ___ = 21
24 + ___ = 29
4 + ___ = 5
5 + ___ = 15
2 + ___ = 4
18 + ___ = 22
31 + ___ = 37
8 + ___ = 15
23 + ___ = 31
21 + ___ = 30
22 + ___ = 34
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain leaps for an epic diving save, then catches the ball with thermal gloves.
2.The villain executes a wild bicycle kick, then snaps on their magnetic shinguards.
3.The villain slides in with a hard slide tackle, then flashes their bright neon cleats.
4.The villain slides in with a hard slide tackle, then fades away in a stealth jersey.
5.The villain performs a rapid header goal, then catches the ball with thermal gloves.
6.The villain leaps for an epic diving save, then fades away in a stealth jersey.
7.The villain executes a wild bicycle kick, then blows hard on their gold whistle.
8.The villain performs a rapid header goal, then snaps on their magnetic shinguards.
9.The villain executes a wild bicycle kick, then catches the ball with thermal gloves.
10.The villain does a lightning speed dribble, then fades away in a stealth jersey.
11.The villain performs a rapid header goal, then blows hard on their gold whistle.
12.The villain executes a wild bicycle kick, then fades away in a stealth jersey.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Golden Cup Caper
Culprit: Aitana Bonmati (header goals · gold whistles · man · spikey hair · loud whistle)
- Clue 1 (Subtraction): "THE THIEF DOES NOT HAVE MAGNETIC SHINGUARDS"9888 - 2288 = 7600 (T) · 6094 - 2911 = 3183 (G) · 11952 - 3676 = 8276 (V) · 8817 - 2676 = 6141 (E) · 8500 - 3686 = 4814 (A) · 2098 - 862 = 1236 (C) · 6704 - 4035 = 2669 (H) · 9476 - 1774 = 7702 (N) · 7343 - 165 = 7178 (M) · 9114 - 4045 = 5069 (I) · 10696 - 3603 = 7093 (S) · 10461 - 4841 = 5620 (F) · 6426 - 4365 = 2061 (O) · 8889 - 835 = 8054 (D) · 3346 - 1727 = 1619 (U) · 8661 - 2123 = 6538 (R)
- Clue 2 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "A MAN WAS SEEN RUNNING"5 × 11 = 55 (A) · 3 × 8 = 24 (G) · 12 × 6 = 72 (E) · 9 × 2 = 18 (M) · 5 × 10 = 50 (U) · 2 × 6 = 12 (W) · 1 × 5 = 5 (N) · 2 × 11 = 22 (R) · 5 × 4 = 20 (I) · 11 × 1 = 11 (S)
- Clue 3 (Rounding): "THE THIEF RAN FROM A LOUD WHISTLE"Round 52 to the nearest ten = 50 (T) · Round 70 to the nearest ten = 70 (D) · Round 277 to the nearest hundred = 300 (W) · Round 144,421 to the nearest ten thousand = 140000 (R) · Round 46,577 to the nearest thousand = 47000 (A) · Round 499 to the nearest hundred = 500 (E) · Round 548,572 to the nearest hundred thousand = 500000 (S) · Round 4,744 to the nearest hundred = 4700 (U) · Round 24,592 to the nearest ten thousand = 20000 (L) · Round 19 to the nearest ten = 20 (H) · Round 214,059 to the nearest hundred thousand = 200000 (M) · Round 730 to the nearest hundred = 700 (I) · Round 2,841 to the nearest hundred = 2800 (O) · Round 3,057,126 to the nearest hundred thousand = 3100000 (F) · Round 281,940 to the nearest ten thousand = 280000 (N)
- Clue 4 (Skip counting): "WE FOUND SPIKEY HAIR SAMPLES"Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, ___, 30, 33 = 27 (W) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, ___, 18, 20 = 16 (S) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, ___, 45, 50 = 40 (H) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, ___, 21, 24 = 18 (U) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, ___, 90, 100 = 80 (R) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, ___, 120, 130 = 110 (F) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, ___, 30, 35 = 25 (Y) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, ___, 70, 80 = 60 (M) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, ___, 50, 55 = 45 (A) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, ___, 8, 10 = 6 (D) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, ___, 35, 40 = 30 (E) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, ___, 150, 160 = 140 (I) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, ___, 24, 27 = 21 (O) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, ___, 42, 45 = 39 (K) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, ___, 39, 42 = 36 (L) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, ___, 30, 32 = 28 (N) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, ___, 25, 30 = 20 (P)
- Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 11) → Aitana Bonmati18 + ___ = 21 = 3 · 24 + ___ = 29 = 5 · 4 + ___ = 5 = 1 · 5 + ___ = 15 = 10 · 2 + ___ = 4 = 2 · 18 + ___ = 22 = 4 · 31 + ___ = 37 = 6 · 8 + ___ = 15 = 7 · 23 + ___ = 31 = 8 · 21 + ___ = 30 = 9 · 22 + ___ = 34 = 12
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Subtraction, Multiplication, Rounding, Skip counting, Missing addends
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Golden Cup Caper — set in the grand Golden Cup Stadium
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects