🔎 Argentina, Portugal, and USAGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4RoundingAdditionSubtractionMultiplicationDivision
The Golden Cup Mystery
The golden championship trophy has been swapped with a plastic replica! The head referee needs your help to scan the superstar player lineup and catch the trickster.
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 | lucky gear | preferred foot | hair style | stadium weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler Adams | rainbow flick | striped sweatband | left footed | curly hair | loud cheering |
| Ruben Dias | diving header | gold cleats | left footed | curly hair | bright floodlights |
| Christian Pulisic | diving header | gold cleats | left footed | buzzed hair | slippery grass |
| Enzo Fernandez | no look pass | lucky mascot charm | right footed | buzzed hair | loud cheering |
| Diogo Costa | bicycle kick | lucky mascot charm | right footed | spiky hair | loud cheering |
| Joao Cancelo | rainbow flick | lucky mascot charm | right footed | buzzed hair | bright floodlights |
| Antonee Robinson | diving header | grippy gloves | right footed | spiky hair | loud cheering |
| Timothy Weah | no look pass | lucky mascot charm | left footed | buzzed hair | slippery grass |
| Yunus Musah | diving header | striped sweatband | left footed | spiky hair | loud cheering |
| Lautaro Martinez | rainbow flick | grippy gloves | right footed | curly hair | slippery grass |
| Angel Di Maria | knuckleball shot | gold cleats | left footed | spiky hair | loud cheering |
| Bruno Fernandes | knuckleball shot | neon shin guards | left footed | spiky hair | bright floodlights |
| Matt Turner | knuckleball shot | gold cleats | left footed | buzzed hair | bright floodlights |
| Lionel Messi | knuckleball shot | neon shin guards | left footed | curly hair | bright floodlights |
| Emiliano Martinez | no look pass | lucky mascot charm | left footed | spiky hair | loud cheering |
| Joao Felix | knuckleball shot | lucky mascot charm | right footed | spiky hair | loud cheering |
| Rafael Leao | rainbow flick | striped sweatband | right footed | buzzed hair | bright floodlights |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | diving header | striped sweatband | right footed | curly hair | loud cheering |
| Julian Alvarez | knuckleball shot | grippy gloves | left footed | spiky hair | loud cheering |
| Rodrigo De Paul | bicycle kick | striped sweatband | left footed | spiky hair | loud cheering |
| Alexis Mac Allister | diving header | striped sweatband | left footed | spiky hair | bright floodlights |
Clue 1
Rounding
The laser sensor on the trophy case only shows rounded numbers. We need to round the scanner readout to find our first 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.
T
430
370
2000
T
430
370
700
2000
2900
9000
900
2000
300
130
900
T
430
370
30
110
2000
30
70
3000
290
1700
500
4300
30
300
290
900
T
430
290
370
30
1300
4300
Round 434 to the nearest tenT
Round 30 to the nearest tenA
Round 1,715 to the nearest hundredK
Round 303 to the nearest hundredS
Round 899 to the nearest hundredO
Round 2,906 to the nearest hundredF
Round 71 to the nearest tenL
Round 1,303 to the nearest hundredR
Round 126 to the nearest tenN
Round 371 to the nearest tenH
Round 112 to the nearest tenV
Round 294 to the nearest tenC
Round 2,486 to the nearest thousandE
Round 652 to the nearest hundredI
Round 4,293 to the nearest hundredM
Round 3,269 to the nearest thousandU
Round 464 to the nearest hundredY
Round 9,374 to the nearest thousandD
0/18 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
We found soccer ball tallies in the locker rooms. Let us add up all the training logs to see what we can find.
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
4955
3351
6167
3671
4860
3671
9558
6167
7020
T
4955
9219
6569
7020
9219
6167
7600
2185
6569
T
4955
3351
T
4955
3351
6167
6569
2415
9414
6167
7669
T
4955
7669
6982
6982
T
4955
2984 + 1971 =T
1663 + 3197 =U
2597 + 5072 =F
3964 + 3018 =O
1354 + 831 =W
5159 + 2441 =D
3263 + 6295 =P
6213 + 3201 =L
4293 + 2727 =C
1294 + 2377 =S
1738 + 1613 =H
1528 + 887 =R
3676 + 2893 =I
3318 + 2849 =E
6144 + 3075 =K
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
The equipment manager is missing some jerseys from the supply room. Subtract the remaining shirts to find the secret message.
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
3911
6054
6700
6772
3856
7964
7731
5387
6054
6700
6700
1129
4555
4881
5217
5387
3856
4881
7668
7964
5161
6700
7731
T
3911
6054
6700
1013
7200 - 3289 =T
11030 - 4258 =L
6704 - 1487 =G
8665 - 3504 =S
7044 - 3188 =O
11832 - 4101 =D
1136 - 123 =M
5033 - 3904 =R
7232 - 1178 =H
6805 - 1418 =C
9518 - 1554 =U
9371 - 2671 =E
6461 - 1906 =I
7842 - 174 =F
9751 - 4870 =N
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The practice cones are set up in equal rows across the stadium turf. Multiply the rows of cones to reveal 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.
W
88
40
50
77
44
2
56
36
90
81
70
120
45
35
36
70
33
77
2
72
35
40
72
33
77
81
35
45
28
36
90
40
8 × 11 =W
1 × 2 =N
6 × 6 =A
10 × 12 =K
7 × 5 =H
5 × 10 =F
3 × 11 =R
9 × 9 =P
8 × 9 =T
7 × 4 =C
10 × 9 =S
11 × 4 =U
7 × 8 =D
9 × 5 =Y
5 × 8 =E
7 × 11 =O
10 × 7 =I
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
A box of energy bars was shared equally among the team squads. Divide the snacks to get the final 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
120 ÷ 10 = ?
70 ÷ 7 = ?
90 ÷ 10 = ?
9 ÷ 9 = ?
18 ÷ 6 = ?
110 ÷ 10 = ?
42 ÷ 7 = ?
24 ÷ 3 = ?
25 ÷ 5 = ?
48 ÷ 12 = ?
18 ÷ 9 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain scores with a diving header, then clutches their lucky mascot charm.
2.The villain performs a wild bicycle kick, then grabs the golden cup with grippy gloves.
3.The villain does a sneaky rainbow flick, then grabs the golden cup with grippy gloves.
4.The villain tricks the guard with a no look pass, then dashes away in shiny gold cleats.
5.The villain tricks the guard with a no look pass, then clutches their lucky mascot charm.
6.The villain blasts a curved knuckleball shot, then clutches their lucky mascot charm.
7.The villain blasts a curved knuckleball shot, then grabs the golden cup with grippy gloves.
8.The villain performs a wild bicycle kick, then flashes their bright neon shin guards.
9.The villain scores with a diving header, then adjusts their striped sweatband.
10.The villain blasts a curved knuckleball shot, then dashes away in shiny gold cleats.
11.The villain scores with a diving header, then dashes away in shiny gold cleats.
12.The villain performs a wild bicycle kick, then adjusts their striped sweatband.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Golden Cup Mystery
Culprit: Julian Alvarez (knuckleball shot · grippy gloves · left footed · spiky hair · loud cheering)
- Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE THIEF DOES NOT HAVE A LUCKY MASCOT CHARM"Round 434 to the nearest ten = 430 (T) · Round 30 to the nearest ten = 30 (A) · Round 1,715 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (K) · Round 303 to the nearest hundred = 300 (S) · Round 899 to the nearest hundred = 900 (O) · Round 2,906 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (F) · Round 71 to the nearest ten = 70 (L) · Round 1,303 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (R) · Round 126 to the nearest ten = 130 (N) · Round 371 to the nearest ten = 370 (H) · Round 112 to the nearest ten = 110 (V) · Round 294 to the nearest ten = 290 (C) · Round 2,486 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (E) · Round 652 to the nearest hundred = 700 (I) · Round 4,293 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (M) · Round 3,269 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (U) · Round 464 to the nearest hundred = 500 (Y) · Round 9,374 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (D)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "THE SUSPECT KICKED WITH THEIR LEFT FOOT"2984 + 1971 = 4955 (T) · 1663 + 3197 = 4860 (U) · 2597 + 5072 = 7669 (F) · 3964 + 3018 = 6982 (O) · 1354 + 831 = 2185 (W) · 5159 + 2441 = 7600 (D) · 3263 + 6295 = 9558 (P) · 6213 + 3201 = 9414 (L) · 4293 + 2727 = 7020 (C) · 1294 + 2377 = 3671 (S) · 1738 + 1613 = 3351 (H) · 1528 + 887 = 2415 (R) · 3676 + 2893 = 6569 (I) · 3318 + 2849 = 6167 (E) · 6144 + 3075 = 9219 (K)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE LOUD CHEERING CONFUSED THEM"7200 - 3289 = 3911 (T) · 11030 - 4258 = 6772 (L) · 6704 - 1487 = 5217 (G) · 8665 - 3504 = 5161 (S) · 7044 - 3188 = 3856 (O) · 11832 - 4101 = 7731 (D) · 1136 - 123 = 1013 (M) · 5033 - 3904 = 1129 (R) · 7232 - 1178 = 6054 (H) · 6805 - 1418 = 5387 (C) · 9518 - 1554 = 7964 (U) · 9371 - 2671 = 6700 (E) · 6461 - 1906 = 4555 (I) · 7842 - 174 = 7668 (F) · 9751 - 4870 = 4881 (N)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "WE FOUND A SPIKY HAIR ON THE TROPHY CASE"8 × 11 = 88 (W) · 1 × 2 = 2 (N) · 6 × 6 = 36 (A) · 10 × 12 = 120 (K) · 7 × 5 = 35 (H) · 5 × 10 = 50 (F) · 3 × 11 = 33 (R) · 9 × 9 = 81 (P) · 8 × 9 = 72 (T) · 7 × 4 = 28 (C) · 10 × 9 = 90 (S) · 11 × 4 = 44 (U) · 7 × 8 = 56 (D) · 9 × 5 = 45 (Y) · 5 × 8 = 40 (E) · 7 × 11 = 77 (O) · 10 × 7 = 70 (I)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 7) → Julian Alvarez120 ÷ 10 = 12 · 70 ÷ 7 = 10 · 90 ÷ 10 = 9 · 9 ÷ 9 = 1 · 18 ÷ 6 = 3 · 110 ÷ 10 = 11 · 42 ÷ 7 = 6 · 24 ÷ 3 = 8 · 25 ÷ 5 = 5 · 48 ÷ 12 = 4 · 18 ÷ 9 = 2
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Golden Cup Mystery — set in the International Soccer Arena
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects