Sports Connections Hints: Dec 5, 2025

This page shows spoiler‑layered hints for the NYT Sports Connections puzzle published on Dec 5, 2025 (2025-12-05). Step through the hints in order and only reveal the full board when you're ready.

Meta: Sports puzzle #646

Puzzle #646 · 2025-12-05 · sports

Step through today’s Connections hints

Start with broad themes, then reveal more detail about the groups and tiles only when you need it. The final button shows today's full group breakdown.

Puzzle reference: Connections #646 for 2025-12-05, edition sports, with a standard four-group board. Spoiler categories and tiles stay collapsed until you open the hint layers below.

Hint 1 – overall theme

There are 4 groups in today’s puzzle.

Themes include: 2026 WORLD CUP HOST CITIES, COUNTRIES QUALIFIED FOR THEIR FIRST WORLD CUP IN 2026, ENGLISH MEN'S SOCCER PLAYERS and 1 more.

Hint 2 – group titles

Here are the category names for each group. Try matching the tiles in the official game to these themes before you reveal any tiles.

2026 WORLD CUP HOST CITIES
COUNTRIES QUALIFIED FOR THEIR FIRST WORLD CUP IN 2026
ENGLISH MEN'S SOCCER PLAYERS
THE BEAUTIFUL GAME, IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES

Hint 3 – group tiles

Reveal the tiles for each group. If you only want a partial nudge, stop after reading one or two groups and go back to the official puzzle.

2026 WORLD CUP HOST CITIES

MEXICO CITY

EAST RUTHERFORD

ATLANTA

TORONTO

COUNTRIES QUALIFIED FOR THEIR FIRST WORLD CUP IN 2026

JORDAN

CAPE VERDE

UZBEKISTAN

CURAÇAO

ENGLISH MEN'S SOCCER PLAYERS

KANE

RICE

SAKA

FODEN

THE BEAUTIFUL GAME, IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES

SOCCER

FOOTBALL

CALCIO

FÚTBOL

Reveal full answer

This is the full breakdown of today's Connections puzzle: group titles and all tiles, grouped together.