It is World Cup weekend.
Or close enough to it for the crossword editor. Today’s mini grid is leaning hard into soccer. You guessed it. The New York Times dropped some tourney-themed clues. If you need Wordle answers instead, CNET covers those separately. But this? This is for the mini.
Check out the solutions below. No tricks. Just answers.
Across
1A asks about race starter gear.
Answer: GUN. Old school timing.
4A. A phrase like 1-1.
Answer: SCORE. Basic sports math.
6A. A speech with alcohol involved.
Answer: TOAST. Hopefully a funny one.
7A. Where you find maps.
Answer: ATLAS. Geography helper.
8A. Brazil at every World Cup. True or false.
Answer: YES. They are actually the only ones.
Down
1D. What makes the highlight reel.
Answer: GOALS. Obviously.
2D. Completes “___ Major”.
Answer: URSA. Astronomy trivia.
3D. Things at both ends of the pitch.
Answer: NETS. Try to hit them.
4D. Hanging out at a hotel.
Answer: STAY. Transient life.
Did you miss that one on 8A? Probably not, but the grid makes you check it twice. Sometimes these puzzles are just lists of nouns. Easy enough. Next time the theme might be less obvious. Or not. Who knows. 🎲
