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NYT Strands embraces the beautiful game with a football-inspired puzzle
The spangram SOCCER ties together six crucial on-field roles
Theme words like MIDFIELDER, DEFENDER, and FORWARD test your tactical thinking and vocabulary
No one likes an empty wallet, especially when rent’s due on Monday. But it’s Friday, the weekend is here, and your brain deserves a treat. So, what’s the fix when payday’s still far off? Grab a strong cup of coffee, put your feet up, and give your brain a mini-payday treat with today’s New York Times Strands puzzle.
It’s a bonus dose of fun, and today’s topic is all about being precise, strategic, and getting into position, on the soccer field, that is.
Today’s grid is a salute to the globe’s greatest sport: soccer. Call it football or the beautiful game, this puzzle places you square on the pitch. From quick strikers to dependable defenders, every position is a pivotal position in a championship team.
It’s not merely a game, it's a formation, finesse, and a dash of footwork for the brain.
Strands is your daily 6x8 letter grid full of connected letters. Your task? Find theme words (they’ll go blue) and one spangram (in yellow) that touches at least two borders and gets to the essence of the theme. Theme words are common nouns, but the spangram can be a proper noun, such as a team name, position, or even the sport itself.
Begin by locating any three valid four-letter-plus words. They don’t have to be thematic, but if you do locate them, you will trigger the Hint button. Use that hint to uncover your first thematic word and let the puzzle unfold from there, like a smart pass that takes you directly into the goal.
The hub force on the grid today is SOCCER, the spangram that weaves all roles and positions together. It’s the motif in action, spanning the board and providing the foundation for your football-themed wordplay.
There are six positions on this tactical team that every soccer aficionado will know:
MIDFIELDER – The playmaker, bridging defense and attack
GOALKEEPER – The wall that stands between triumph and disaster
STRIKER – The one who puts it in the back of the net
DEFENDER – The steady guard in the back
FORWARD – Quick, fearless, and forever moving forward
Yes, the budget may be scant, but your imagination is plentiful, and today’s NYT Strands puzzle is the ideal mind break. With SOCCER leading the way, each word is a position taken, a play made, and a tiny triumph as you look forward to the weekend.
Take it slow, coffee in hand, enjoy the play, and treat yourself. Because even though payday’s just around the corner, your mind could use a bonus today.
