⚽ Soccer world cupGrade 3Reading: grades 3-4RoundingAdditionSubtractionMultiplicationDivision
The Mystery of the World Cup Trophy
The stadium is packed and the fans are cheering for the soccer final. But just before kickoff, the Head Referee noticed the Golden Trophy was stolen right from the glass case! You must crack the clues and find the thief before the championship match ends.
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 | Favorite Position | Lucky Gear | Division | Head Style | Biggest Mistake |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ivy | Goalkeeper | Laser Watch | Team Boy | Spiky Hair | Slips on Mud |
| Sam | Midfielder | Grip Gloves | Team Girl | Spiky Hair | Slips on Mud |
| Toby | Defender | Laser Watch | Team Boy | Headband | Drops the Ball |
| Yara | Striker | Golden Whistle | Team Girl | Curly Ponytail | Drops the Ball |
| Leo | Coach | Golden Whistle | Team Girl | Spiky Hair | Fears Red Cards |
| Kira | Midfielder | Grip Gloves | Team Girl | Headband | Slips on Mud |
| Emma | Defender | Silver Clipboard | Team Boy | Spiky Hair | Fears Red Cards |
| Zack | Striker | Silver Clipboard | Team Girl | Headband | Slips on Mud |
| Nico | Midfielder | Silver Clipboard | Team Girl | Headband | Slips on Mud |
| Alex | Goalkeeper | Silver Clipboard | Team Girl | Curly Ponytail | Fears Red Cards |
| Vera | Coach | Silver Clipboard | Team Girl | Curly Ponytail | Drops the Ball |
| Hugo | Defender | Neon Cleats | Team Boy | Headband | Slips on Mud |
| Will | Coach | Laser Watch | Team Boy | Headband | Slips on Mud |
| Piper | Defender | Grip Gloves | Team Girl | Spiky Hair | Fears Red Cards |
| Olivia | Coach | Grip Gloves | Team Girl | Headband | Drops the Ball |
| Benny | Goalkeeper | Golden Whistle | Team Girl | Spiky Hair | Fears Red Cards |
| Ruby | Midfielder | Laser Watch | Team Girl | Headband | Slips on Mud |
| Danny | Striker | Grip Gloves | Team Boy | Headband | Slips on Mud |
| Jack | Midfielder | Laser Watch | Team Girl | Spiky Hair | Fears Red Cards |
| Maya | Midfielder | Silver Clipboard | Team Boy | Headband | Slips on Mud |
| Grace | Midfielder | Silver Clipboard | Team Girl | Spiky Hair | Fears Red Cards |
Clue 1
Rounding
A broken digital scoreboard by the gate flashed a number that only shows rounded tens. Solve this rounding puzzle to find where the thief ran!
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
90
300
600
T
90
300
800
600
8000
700
2000
600
900
60
2000
T
90
4000
600
3000
200
3000
20
3000
900
600
200
4000
3000
T
90
500
300
Round 90 to the nearest tenT
Round 198 to the nearest hundredR
Round 63 to the nearest tenN
Round 1,978 to the nearest thousandO
Round 3,203 to the nearest thousandA
Round 760 to the nearest hundredI
Round 343 to the nearest hundredH
Round 20 to the nearest tenL
Round 468 to the nearest hundredC
Round 706 to the nearest hundredD
Round 7,734 to the nearest thousandF
Round 643 to the nearest hundredE
Round 3,767 to the nearest thousandW
Round 867 to the nearest hundredS
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
The stadium crew counted the spare soccer balls in the equipment locker. Add up the total balls to find a clue card taped to the locker door!
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
602
277
318
691
297
831
831
318
691
614
393
431
393
T
602
318
393
677
751
386
691
257
386
831
634
318
691
431
318
233
265 + 337 =T
242 + 144 =I
337 + 297 =J
311 + 366 =M
145 + 173 =E
235 + 196 =S
113 + 120 =Y
120 + 137 =L
375 + 456 =N
392 + 359 =G
127 + 170 =U
255 + 138 =A
104 + 173 =H
431 + 260 =R
365 + 249 =W
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
The game timer shows how much time is left in the second half. Subtract the minutes to unlock the referee's secret locker!
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
467
560
833
582
368
320
691
548
629
610
697
629
691
610
582
610
629
122
765
691
610
122
582
T
467
560
629
672
887
582
T
467
567 - 100 =T
906 - 209 =F
1050 - 217 =I
1068 - 303 =C
839 - 167 =M
1105 - 218 =O
806 - 246 =H
883 - 335 =Y
546 - 178 =P
940 - 249 =A
534 - 214 =L
730 - 120 =R
907 - 325 =S
406 - 284 =D
792 - 163 =E
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The team crates are stacked in neat rows near the locker room. Multiply the rows of water bottles to see what the witness 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.
W
6
80
100
27
14
132
11
8
56
55
88
32
54
121
55
144
48
3
55
56
8
72
32
42
54
80
18
121
42
80
2 × 3 =W
8 × 6 =C
1 × 3 =L
11 × 1 =D
2 × 7 =U
3 × 6 =G
11 × 11 =A
4 × 2 =S
12 × 11 =N
8 × 11 =K
9 × 6 =H
8 × 10 =E
8 × 4 =Y
12 × 12 =R
8 × 9 =B
10 × 10 =F
7 × 8 =P
6 × 7 =T
5 × 11 =I
9 × 3 =O
0/20 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The coach wanted to share the training cones equally among the players. Divide the cones to open the final clue container!
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
32 ÷ 8 = ?
5 ÷ 1 = ?
30 ÷ 5 = ?
24 ÷ 2 = ?
30 ÷ 3 = ?
22 ÷ 11 = ?
18 ÷ 2 = ?
96 ÷ 12 = ?
110 ÷ 10 = ?
36 ÷ 12 = ?
49 ÷ 7 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain blocks a crucial penalty shot, then blows a loud high pitched whistle.
2.The villain tackles the opponent near the goal, then leaves bright glowing green footprints.
3.The villain passes the ball through the defense, then leaves bright glowing green footprints.
4.The villain shouts instructions from the sideline, then blows a loud high pitched whistle.
5.The villain passes the ball through the defense, then writes a secret play on the board.
6.The villain tackles the opponent near the goal, then catches the heavy metal trophy.
7.The villain shouts instructions from the sideline, then writes a secret play on the board.
8.The villain kicks a soccer ball into the stands, then leaves bright glowing green footprints.
9.The villain kicks a soccer ball into the stands, then writes a secret play on the board.
10.The villain passes the ball through the defense, then checks the flashing digital timer.
11.The villain tackles the opponent near the goal, then writes a secret play on the board.
12.The villain kicks a soccer ball into the stands, then blows a loud high pitched whistle.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the World Cup Trophy
Culprit: Benny (Goalkeeper · Golden Whistle · Team Girl · Spiky Hair · Fears Red Cards)
- Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE THIEF DOES NOT WEAR A LASER WATCH"Round 90 to the nearest ten = 90 (T) · Round 198 to the nearest hundred = 200 (R) · Round 63 to the nearest ten = 60 (N) · Round 1,978 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (O) · Round 3,203 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (A) · Round 760 to the nearest hundred = 800 (I) · Round 343 to the nearest hundred = 300 (H) · Round 20 to the nearest ten = 20 (L) · Round 468 to the nearest hundred = 500 (C) · Round 706 to the nearest hundred = 700 (D) · Round 7,734 to the nearest thousand = 8000 (F) · Round 643 to the nearest hundred = 600 (E) · Round 3,767 to the nearest thousand = 4000 (W) · Round 867 to the nearest hundred = 900 (S)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "THE RUNNER WAS A TEAM GIRL IN JERSEY"265 + 337 = 602 (T) · 242 + 144 = 386 (I) · 337 + 297 = 634 (J) · 311 + 366 = 677 (M) · 145 + 173 = 318 (E) · 235 + 196 = 431 (S) · 113 + 120 = 233 (Y) · 120 + 137 = 257 (L) · 375 + 456 = 831 (N) · 392 + 359 = 751 (G) · 127 + 170 = 297 (U) · 255 + 138 = 393 (A) · 104 + 173 = 277 (H) · 431 + 260 = 691 (R) · 365 + 249 = 614 (W)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THIS PLAYER FEARS RED CARDS THE MOST"567 - 100 = 467 (T) · 906 - 209 = 697 (F) · 1050 - 217 = 833 (I) · 1068 - 303 = 765 (C) · 839 - 167 = 672 (M) · 1105 - 218 = 887 (O) · 806 - 246 = 560 (H) · 883 - 335 = 548 (Y) · 546 - 178 = 368 (P) · 940 - 249 = 691 (A) · 534 - 214 = 320 (L) · 730 - 120 = 610 (R) · 907 - 325 = 582 (S) · 406 - 284 = 122 (D) · 792 - 163 = 629 (E)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "WE FOUND SPIKY HAIR CLIPS BY THE GATE"2 × 3 = 6 (W) · 8 × 6 = 48 (C) · 1 × 3 = 3 (L) · 11 × 1 = 11 (D) · 2 × 7 = 14 (U) · 3 × 6 = 18 (G) · 11 × 11 = 121 (A) · 4 × 2 = 8 (S) · 12 × 11 = 132 (N) · 8 × 11 = 88 (K) · 9 × 6 = 54 (H) · 8 × 10 = 80 (E) · 8 × 4 = 32 (Y) · 12 × 12 = 144 (R) · 8 × 9 = 72 (B) · 10 × 10 = 100 (F) · 7 × 8 = 56 (P) · 6 × 7 = 42 (T) · 5 × 11 = 55 (I) · 9 × 3 = 27 (O)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 1) → Benny32 ÷ 8 = 4 · 5 ÷ 1 = 5 · 30 ÷ 5 = 6 · 24 ÷ 2 = 12 · 30 ÷ 3 = 10 · 22 ÷ 11 = 2 · 18 ÷ 2 = 9 · 96 ÷ 12 = 8 · 110 ÷ 10 = 11 · 36 ÷ 12 = 3 · 49 ÷ 7 = 7
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Mystery of the World Cup Trophy — set in The Grand Championship Stadium during the soccer finals
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects