⚽ SoccerGrade 8Reading: grades 7-9MultiplicationWord problemsMulti-step word problemsExponentsDivision
The Golden Cup Mystery
Right before the championship final at Metropolitan Soccer Arena, someone swapped the golden trophy with a fake and scattered the head coach's playbooks. The tactical team must analyze match data to reveal the culprit.
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 | Gear Item | Dominant Foot | Hairstyle | Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lionel Messi | Slide Tackle | Gold Cleats | Left Footed | Spiky Hair | Loud Whistle |
| Luka Modric | Power Header | Captain Band | Left Footed | Spiky Hair | Bright Spotlight |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Penalty Shot | Padded Gloves | Left Footed | Braided Hair | Yellow Card |
| Pedri Gonzalez | Penalty Shot | Gold Cleats | Left Footed | Braided Hair | Loud Whistle |
| Bruno Fernandes | Bicycle Kick | Whistle Strap | Left Footed | Buzz Cut | Yellow Card |
| Virgil van Dijk | Slide Tackle | Gold Cleats | Right Footed | Braided Hair | Bright Spotlight |
| Marta Silva | Slide Tackle | Gold Cleats | Left Footed | Braided Hair | Loud Whistle |
| Erling Haaland | Power Header | Neon Vest | Right Footed | Spiky Hair | Yellow Card |
| Gianluigi Donnarumma | Curve Kick | Captain Band | Left Footed | Braided Hair | Yellow Card |
| Declan Rice | Slide Tackle | Gold Cleats | Left Footed | Braided Hair | Yellow Card |
| Bukayo Saka | Penalty Shot | Gold Cleats | Left Footed | Braided Hair | Bright Spotlight |
| Marcus Rashford | Curve Kick | Whistle Strap | Right Footed | Buzz Cut | Bright Spotlight |
| Jude Bellingham | Power Header | Whistle Strap | Left Footed | Braided Hair | Yellow Card |
| Harry Kane | Power Header | Captain Band | Left Footed | Braided Hair | Yellow Card |
| Kylian Mbappe | Power Header | Captain Band | Right Footed | Braided Hair | Yellow Card |
| Sam Kerr | Power Header | Captain Band | Left Footed | Spiky Hair | Yellow Card |
| Rodri Hernandez | Penalty Shot | Padded Gloves | Right Footed | Spiky Hair | Bright Spotlight |
| Federico Valverde | Curve Kick | Gold Cleats | Left Footed | Spiky Hair | Yellow Card |
| Jamal Musiala | Power Header | Gold Cleats | Right Footed | Buzz Cut | Loud Whistle |
| Alex Morgan | Curve Kick | Neon Vest | Right Footed | Braided Hair | Yellow Card |
| Alphonso Davies | Curve Kick | Captain Band | Right Footed | Buzz Cut | Yellow Card |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The equipment manager calculates soccer ball tallies and gear counts across multiple training sessions to decode the first lead.
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
100
7
30
22
96
132
132
9
96
4
72
10
30
28
4
10
T
100
40
30
9
54
50
9
72
72
30
72
24
132
10
22
30
28
10 × 10 =T
9 × 6 =R
2 × 2 =N
8 × 12 =I
10 × 1 =O
4 × 7 =S
2 × 11 =V
3 × 3 =A
11 × 12 =L
5 × 6 =E
7 × 1 =H
5 × 10 =P
8 × 3 =G
8 × 9 =D
4 × 10 =W
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Word problems
The stadium analyst calculates total passing stats to reveal the suspect's habits.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas.
L
114
19
103
116
103
97
97
116
19
59
Midfielder found 32 soccer balls yesterday and 82 more today. How many soccer balls in all?L
There were 133 soccer balls. 30 were used up. How many soccer balls are left?F
Midfielder found 9 soccer balls yesterday and 50 more today. How many soccer balls in all?D
Midfielder found 10 soccer balls yesterday and 9 more today. How many soccer balls in all?E
Midfielder found 105 training pinnies yesterday and 11 more today. How many training pinnies in all?T
There were 102 corner flags. 5 were used up. How many corner flags are left?O
0/6 letters found
Clue 3
Multi-step word problems
The groundskeeper multiplies row counts of stadium seats to locate where the mystery offender was sitting.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Someonescaredthevillainoffwith .
Y
86
72
56
56
16
57
17
49
R
D
There were 621 soccer balls in all. 19 soccer balls were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 7 scouting staff. How many soccer balls did each get?Y
Midfielder earned 7 soccer balls in each of 6 rounds, plus 35 bonus soccer balls. Then 5 soccer balls were lost. How many soccer balls are left?E
Midfielder earned 2 soccer balls in each of 6 rounds, plus 48 bonus soccer balls. Then 3 soccer balls were lost. How many soccer balls are left?W
There were 294 water bottles in all. 1 scouting staff used 14 water bottles each. The other 5 scouting staff shared the rest equally. How many water bottles did each of the other scouting staff get?L
Midfielder collected 112 cone markers in the morning and 35 cone markers in the afternoon, then split them equally among 3 scouting staff. How many cone markers did each get?A
Midfielder filled 4 boxes with 3 water bottles each, then found 5 more water bottles. How many water bottles are there in all?C
Midfielder collected 41 training pinnies in the morning and 7 training pinnies in the afternoon, then split them equally among 3 scouting staff. How many training pinnies did each get?O
0/7 letters found
Clue 4
Exponents
The tactical video system uses exponential grid scaling to pinpoint where the rogue movement started on the pitch.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
B
4
256
625
324
169
81
169
484
625
324
256
121
729
256
625
343
169
121
144
81
256
81
128
81
441
729
16
343
729
484
81
729
9
256
441
2^2 =B
22^2 =H
9^2 =E
4^4 =R
18^2 =I
3^2 =U
12^2 =W
2^7 =L
3^6 =T
21^2 =F
11^2 =S
4^2 =O
13^2 =D
5^4 =A
7^3 =N
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The referee divides team scrimmage scores into equal groups to isolate the final piece of evidence.
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
48 ÷ 8 = ?
32 ÷ 4 = ?
10 ÷ 2 = ?
24 ÷ 8 = ?
20 ÷ 2 = ?
88 ÷ 8 = ?
45 ÷ 5 = ?
28 ÷ 4 = ?
132 ÷ 11 = ?
32 ÷ 8 = ?
3 ÷ 3 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain smashed a fast penalty shot, then adjusted a glowing captain band.
2.The villain executed a reckless slide tackle, then flashed shiny gold cleats.
3.The villain smashed a fast penalty shot, then swung a black whistle strap.
4.The villain smashed a fast penalty shot, then pulled on thick padded gloves.
5.The villain scored with a powerful header, then swung a black whistle strap.
6.The villain scored with a powerful header, then adjusted a glowing captain band.
7.The villain executed a reckless slide tackle, then zipped up a neon vest.
8.The villain curved the ball into the top corner, then adjusted a glowing captain band.
9.The villain curved the ball into the top corner, then swung a black whistle strap.
10.The villain launched a dramatic bicycle kick, then zipped up a neon vest.
11.The villain launched a dramatic bicycle kick, then adjusted a glowing captain band.
12.The villain executed a reckless slide tackle, then adjusted a glowing captain band.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Golden Cup Mystery
Culprit: Declan Rice (Slide Tackle · Gold Cleats · Left Footed · Braided Hair · Yellow Card)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT WEAR PADDED GLOVES"10 × 10 = 100 (T) · 9 × 6 = 54 (R) · 2 × 2 = 4 (N) · 8 × 12 = 96 (I) · 10 × 1 = 10 (O) · 4 × 7 = 28 (S) · 2 × 11 = 22 (V) · 3 × 3 = 9 (A) · 11 × 12 = 132 (L) · 5 × 6 = 30 (E) · 7 × 1 = 7 (H) · 5 × 10 = 50 (P) · 8 × 3 = 24 (G) · 8 × 9 = 72 (D) · 4 × 10 = 40 (W)
- Clue 2 (Word problems): "LEFT FOOTED"Midfielder found 32 soccer balls yesterday and 82 more today. How many soccer balls in all? = 114 (L) · There were 133 soccer balls. 30 were used up. How many soccer balls are left? = 103 (F) · Midfielder found 9 soccer balls yesterday and 50 more today. How many soccer balls in all? = 59 (D) · Midfielder found 10 soccer balls yesterday and 9 more today. How many soccer balls in all? = 19 (E) · Midfielder found 105 training pinnies yesterday and 11 more today. How many training pinnies in all? = 116 (T) · There were 102 corner flags. 5 were used up. How many corner flags are left? = 97 (O)
- Clue 3 (Multi-step word problems): "YELLOW CARD"There were 621 soccer balls in all. 19 soccer balls were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 7 scouting staff. How many soccer balls did each get? = 86 (Y) · Midfielder earned 7 soccer balls in each of 6 rounds, plus 35 bonus soccer balls. Then 5 soccer balls were lost. How many soccer balls are left? = 72 (E) · Midfielder earned 2 soccer balls in each of 6 rounds, plus 48 bonus soccer balls. Then 3 soccer balls were lost. How many soccer balls are left? = 57 (W) · There were 294 water bottles in all. 1 scouting staff used 14 water bottles each. The other 5 scouting staff shared the rest equally. How many water bottles did each of the other scouting staff get? = 56 (L) · Midfielder collected 112 cone markers in the morning and 35 cone markers in the afternoon, then split them equally among 3 scouting staff. How many cone markers did each get? = 49 (A) · Midfielder filled 4 boxes with 3 water bottles each, then found 5 more water bottles. How many water bottles are there in all? = 17 (C) · Midfielder collected 41 training pinnies in the morning and 7 training pinnies in the afternoon, then split them equally among 3 scouting staff. How many training pinnies did each get? = 16 (O)
- Clue 4 (Exponents): "BRAIDED HAIR STRANDS WERE LEFT ON THE TURF"2^2 = 4 (B) · 22^2 = 484 (H) · 9^2 = 81 (E) · 4^4 = 256 (R) · 18^2 = 324 (I) · 3^2 = 9 (U) · 12^2 = 144 (W) · 2^7 = 128 (L) · 3^6 = 729 (T) · 21^2 = 441 (F) · 11^2 = 121 (S) · 4^2 = 16 (O) · 13^2 = 169 (D) · 5^4 = 625 (A) · 7^3 = 343 (N)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 2) → Declan Rice48 ÷ 8 = 6 · 32 ÷ 4 = 8 · 10 ÷ 2 = 5 · 24 ÷ 8 = 3 · 20 ÷ 2 = 10 · 88 ÷ 8 = 11 · 45 ÷ 5 = 9 · 28 ÷ 4 = 7 · 132 ÷ 11 = 12 · 32 ÷ 8 = 4 · 3 ÷ 3 = 1
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 8 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Word problems, Multi-step word problems, Exponents, Division
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Golden Cup Mystery — set in Metropolitan Soccer Arena
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects