If you played the Connections: Soccer Edition puzzle on July 29, 2026 and wondered what each football term actually means, this guide breaks down the definition and context behind all 16 words. Whether you cracked the board or came looking afterward, understanding the athletic history behind COLORADO, MINNESOTA, UTAH, WASHINGTON, FERRARI, FORD, HONDA, SUZUKI, AON, CHEVROLET, SHARP, VODAFONE, CHERNO MORE, CSKA, LEVSKI and MONTANA makes the whole puzzle click into place.
Below you'll find every word defined and organized by its Connections category. If you want gentle nudges instead of full spoilers for future games, check our daily NYT Connections Soccer Edition hints today hub.
- U.S. States with an MLS Team: COLORADO, MINNESOTA, UTAH, WASHINGTON
- Past World Cup Squad Members with Surname of Car Brand: FERRARI, FORD, HONDA, SUZUKI
- Manchester United Shirt Sponsors: AON, CHEVROLET, SHARP, VODAFONE
- Bulgarian Clubs: CHERNO MORE, CSKA, LEVSKI, MONTANA
All 16 Soccer Connections Words for July 29, 2026
The 16 words in today's grid were: COLORADO, MINNESOTA, UTAH, WASHINGTON, FERRARI, FORD, HONDA, SUZUKI, AON, CHEVROLET, SHARP, VODAFONE, CHERNO MORE, CSKA, LEVSKI and MONTANA. In Soccer Connections, you sort these 16 terms into four groups of four. Today's puzzle featured American soccer geography, international players with automotive surnames, historic Red Devils sponsors, and Eastern European club names.
U.S. States with an MLS Team: COLORADO, MINNESOTA, UTAH, WASHINGTON
Each of these four U.S. states is home to an active Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise.
COLORADO (Meaning)
Colorado is the home state of the Colorado Rapids, who compete in the MLS Western Conference at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City.
MINNESOTA (Meaning)
Minnesota hosts Minnesota United FC (the Loons), who play home matches at Allianz Field in Saint Paul.
UTAH (Meaning)
Utah is represented in MLS by Real Salt Lake, playing out of America First Field in Sandy.
WASHINGTON (Meaning)
Washington is home to Seattle Sounders FC, one of MLS's most successful Western Conference clubs playing at Lumen Field.
Past World Cup Squad Members with Surname of Car Brand: FERRARI, FORD, HONDA, SUZUKI
These four international footballers represented their nations at FIFA World Cup tournaments and share their surnames with famous car manufacturers.
FERRARI (Meaning)
Refers to players like Matteo Ferrari, an Italian defender included in Italy's international squads (or Enzo Ferrari's namesake brand overlap).
FORD (Meaning)
Refers to World Cup players such as Simon Ford or former international squad members sharing the surname with the American automaker.
HONDA (Meaning)
Keisuke Honda is a legendary Japanese midfielder who represented Japan at three FIFA World Cups (2010, 2014, 2018), scoring in all three.
SUZUKI (Meaning)
Refers to players like Zion Suzuki or Takayuki Suzuki, the striker who represented Japan at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, sharing a name with Suzuki Motor Corp.
Manchester United Shirt Sponsors: AON, CHEVROLET, SHARP, VODAFONE
These four iconic brands have all featured as front-of-shirt sponsors for English Premier League giants Manchester United over the decades.
AON (Meaning)
Aon, the global professional services firm, served as Manchester United's primary shirt sponsor from 2010 to 2014.
CHEVROLET (Meaning)
Chevrolet, the American automotive brand, spent seven seasons as Manchester United's shirt sponsor from 2014 to 2021.
SHARP (Meaning)
Sharp Electronics was Manchester United's iconic shirt sponsor during their golden era under Sir Alex Ferguson from 1982 to 2000.
VODAFONE (Meaning)
Vodafone, the British telecommunications multinational, featured on Manchester United's kits from 2000 to 2006.
Bulgarian Clubs: CHERNO MORE, CSKA, LEVSKI, MONTANA
These four names belong to professional football clubs based in Bulgaria competing across the First Professional Football League or Second League.
CHERNO MORE (Meaning)
Cherno More (PFC Cherno More Varna) is one of Bulgaria's oldest active football clubs, based in the coastal city of Varna.
CSKA (Meaning)
CSKA (CSKA Sofia) is Bulgaria's most decorated football club, having won over 30 domestic league titles.
LEVSKI (Meaning)
Levski (PFC Levski Sofia) is one of Bulgaria's most popular clubs, named after the national hero Vasil Levski.
MONTANA (Meaning)
Montana (PFC Montana) is a professional Bulgarian football club based in the northwestern city of Montana.
Why These Words Tripped Players Up
Today's puzzle contained brilliant overlapping traps. CHEVROLET, FORD, HONDA, FERRARI, and SUZUKI heavily pushed solvers toward automotive brands, forcing you to realize that CHEVROLET belonged to the Manchester United kit sponsors group instead. Furthermore, MONTANA and COLORADO look like an obvious U.S. state pair, but MONTANA had to be identified as the Bulgarian football club (PFC Montana) since Montana does not host an MLS team!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 16 words in Soccer Connections for July 29, 2026?
The 16 words are COLORADO, MINNESOTA, UTAH, WASHINGTON, FERRARI, FORD, HONDA, SUZUKI, AON, CHEVROLET, SHARP, VODAFONE, CHERNO MORE, CSKA, LEVSKI and MONTANA.
Which U.S. states in today's grid host MLS teams?
Colorado (Rapids), Minnesota (United FC), Utah (Real Salt Lake), and Washington (Seattle Sounders FC) all host active Major League Soccer franchises.
Why is CHEVROLET separated from FORD, HONDA, and SUZUKI?
While Chevrolet is a car brand, in this grid it acted as a Manchester United shirt sponsor, whereas Ford, Honda, Ferrari, and Suzuki refer to surnames of World Cup squad players.
What do AON, CHEVROLET, SHARP and VODAFONE have in common?
They are all historic front-of-shirt main sponsors featured on Manchester United match kits.
What are CHERNO MORE, CSKA, LEVSKI and MONTANA?
They are all professional association football clubs operating in Bulgaria.
Final Thoughts
Now you know the context and soccer trivia behind all 16 terms in the July 29, 2026 Soccer Connections grid. Bookmark our site and check back daily for comprehensive answer breakdowns, trivia guides, and strategic hints!
