NYT Connections Embraces The World Cup With A Limited-Time Soccer Edition

InnovationGamingNYT Connections Embraces The World Cup With A Limited-Time Soccer EditionByKris Holt,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Kris Holt is a writer who covers video games and word games.Follow AuthorJun 11, 2026, 04:30pm EDTThe FIFA World Cup Trophy Getty ImagesThe New York Times is getting into the spirit of the World Cup in several ways. One of those is with a special, soccer-themed edition of Connections. (I hate referring to it as “soccer,” so I’ll be calling it by its proper name of football wherever possible from here on out.)As with the other editions of Connections, this is a daily game that goes live in your neck of the woods at midnight local time. It’ll run through the duration of the World Cup, ending with the tournament final on July 19. As with the sports version of the game, Connections: Soccer Edition has an optional timer. Will Jeanes, a senior editor at The Athletic who focuses on football, created this edition.Connections: Soccer EditionThe New York TimesIt works the same way as the other versions of Connections. There are 16 words (or phrases or even symbols) to arrange into four categories. There’s only one correct answer and probably at least one red herring in each game. You can make three mistakes, but if you make a fourth one, it’s a red card and an early bath. If you have an NYT account, you can track your stats as well.“You won’t need to be a soccer (or football, depending on where you are from) fanatic to play, enjoy and solve these puzzles though — far from it,” Jeanes wrote. “The game is accessible for even the most casual fans, though the experts will still enjoy testing themselves against the timer and their family and friends.”MORE FOR YOUConnections Now Has Three EditionsI adore the original Connections. I write a handy hints column for the game every single day, as well as an explainer of the answers and red herring(s) most days. Connections: Sports Edition never quite hit th...