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NYT Connections Sports Edition · #664

NYT Connections Sports Edition Hints & Answers (#664) — July 19, 2026

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Earlier Jul 18 This puzzle Jul 19 Later Jul 20

“Group the clearest defensive plays first before moving to groups that need specific tournament knowledge.Today's puzzle has BALL, which also appeared in Connections #650 (Jul 5, 2026). It was part of NBA guards.”

NYT Sports Connections hints for July 19, 2026

Three levels of help — a definition for every word, colour-coded group nudges, and a heads-up on the traps. Skip to all answers →

1

Word clues

A spoiler-free definition for every word in the grid. Tap the eye on any card to reveal which colour-group it belongs to.

1 AZTECAThe Mexico City stadium with the most World Cup final appearances.
2 BALLYou're probably thinking of a sphere, but here it completes the top player award.
3 BLOCKLooks like an obstruction but here means using the body to stop a shot.
4 BOOTCompletes the name of the leading scorer award.
5 FORLÁNThe 2010 winner who played for Uruguay.
6 GLOVECompletes the name of the best goalkeeper award.
7 GOALCompletes the name of the best goal award.
8 MARACANÃThe iconic Rio venue known for two World Cup finals.
9 MARADONAThe 1986 winner famous for his dribbling and the Hand of God.
10 MODRIĆThe 2018 winner who led Croatia to the final.
11 PARRYA quick deflection of an incoming shot.
12 ROSE BOWLThe famous Pasadena stadium that hosted the 1994 final.
13 SAVEYou're probably thinking of rescue, but here it means stopping a shot from going in.
14 SOCCER CITYThe Johannesburg stadium that hosted the 2010 final.
15 STOPThe most direct way to keep the ball out of the net.
16 ZIDANEThe 2006 winner known for his headbutt in the final.
2

Group hints

Four colour-coded groups, easiest → hardest. Every button reveals the hint, the category name, or a single word — tap only what you need.

See Hint What defenders do when a shot comes their way.
See Group PREVENT A GOAL
See WordBLOCK
See WordPARRY
See WordSAVE
See WordSTOP
See Hint Venues that have hosted the championship match.
See Group STADIUMS TO HOST WORLD CUP FINAL
See WordROSE BOWL
See WordMARACANÃ
See WordSOCCER CITY
See WordAZTECA
See Hint Players honored for the best performance at one tournament.
See Group WORLD CUP GOLDEN BALL WINNERS
See WordMARADONA
See WordMODRIĆ
See WordZIDANE
See WordFORLÁN
See Hint Phrases that begin with the same valuable color word.
See Group GOLDEN _____
See WordBALL
See WordBOOT
See WordGLOVE
See WordGOAL
3

Words the puzzle wants you to mis-group

Read these before you guess — they're the words most likely to break a streak. Tap for the trap.

1 SAVE Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of rescue or keep, but here the puzzle uses it for stopping a shot on goal.
2 BLOCK Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably picturing an obstruction or building piece, but here it's stopping a shot with the body.
3 BALL Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of a sphere used in games, but here it's part of completing an award name.

NYT Sports Connections answers for July 19, 2026

All four groups revealed, easiest first. Each card holds the theme, the four words, and why the group works.

Y PREVENT A GOAL · Yellow · easiest
  • BLOCK
  • PARRY
  • SAVE
  • STOP

BLOCK, PARRY, SAVE and STOP all prevent a goal. SAVE stands out as the most familiar goalkeeper action of the four.

G STADIUMS TO HOST WORLD CUP FINAL · Green · easy
  • ROSE BOWL
  • MARACANÃ
  • SOCCER CITY
  • AZTECA

ROSE BOWL, MARACANÃ, SOCCER CITY and AZTECA have all hosted a World Cup final. AZTECA is the only one to do so twice.

B WORLD CUP GOLDEN BALL WINNERS · Blue · medium
  • MARADONA
  • MODRIĆ
  • ZIDANE
  • FORLÁN

MARADONA, MODRIĆ, ZIDANE and FORLÁN each won the World Cup Golden Ball. FORLÁN is the only one from a team that did not reach the final.

P GOLDEN _____ · Purple · hardest
  • BALL
  • BOOT
  • GLOVE
  • GOAL

BALL, BOOT, GLOVE and GOAL all follow GOLDEN to form soccer award names. GLOVE is the least obvious because the award itself is newer.

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