How it works

The Group Stage ยท World Cup 2026

๐Ÿ”’ Point values are hidden until you're logged inโ€” and may still be tweaked before kick-off. Sign in to see exactly what everything's worth.

You don't pick a team โ€” the machine deals you one. From there it's three ways to rack up points: how your drawn squad does, how sharp your pre-tournament calls are, and how much you throw yourself into it. Highest total when the dust settles wins.

Sweepstakes

The machine deals you a squad. Whatever they do on the pitch, you score.

Predictions

Call it before kickoff โ€” winners, scorers, shocks. Right calls bank points.

Show up

Wear the shirt, watch with the group, eat and drink like your nations.

Two separate lanes. Your assigned squad doing things and your forecasts coming true never cancel out โ€” the same moment can pay twice. (Your team reaches the final andyou called them to win? That's two lots of points.)

Your squad

When predictions lock, you spin once to reveal four picks โ€” drawn at random from the pools:

A heavyweightOne of the 24 top-ranked nations.
An underdogOne of the 24 long shots.
An attackerA star forward to bang them in.
A keeperA No.1 to keep them out.

๐ŸŽฐ Sweepstakes points

Your teams

Whatever your two nations do out on the pitch, you score. Your underdog pays more โ€” long shots are where the glory is.

Group-stage winYour nation wins a group game.
Group-stage drawYour nation shares the spoils.
Into the knockouts (and beyond)Points grow each round reached โ€” Last 32 โ†’ Last 16 โ†’ Quarter โ†’ Semi โ†’ Final.
Uno reverseWhen your underdog loses, you bank 3 points per goal of the defeat.
Park the busYour underdog keeps a clean sheet against a top-24 side.
Self-sabotageA player on one of your nations scores an own goal.
Wooden spoonOne of your nations finishes with the tournament's worst goal difference.

Your players

Your attacker and keeper score wherever they're playing. Goals and saves count in regular and extra time only โ€” penalty shootouts don't count.

Attacker โ€” open-play goalFrom the run of play.
Attacker โ€” free-kick goalStraight from a set-piece.
Keeper โ€” saveEach save made in normal play.
Keeper โ€” penalty saveDenied from the spot during the match (not shootouts).

๐Ÿ”ฎ Prediction points

The honours

Call the big winners before a ball is kicked.

The chocolatesPick the tournament winner.
No cigarPick the runner-up.
Golden bootPick the top scorer.
Golden ballPick the player of the tournament.
Golden glovePick the best goalkeeper.
Young playerPick the best under-21.

The wildcards

Biggest blunderName the player who'll have the worst moment of the tournament.
Thug lifeName the most-booked player.
Gang lifeName the most-booked team.
Jet laggardsPick a top-10 side to crash out in the group stage.
Over / underOver or under 274.5 total goals across the tournament. All goals in regular and extra time count, including penalties โ€” but not penalty shootouts.
Home heroWhich host โ€” ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ โ€” goes the furthest.
Giant slayerCall an underdog to beat a heavyweight in the groups.
Pitch invadersGuess the number of streakers. Closest wins.
Soft spotSecretly nominate your real favourite (any of the 48). How it scores is strictly classified โ€” you'll find out at the final whistle. ๐Ÿคซ

๐Ÿ‘• Social points

Showing up

It's not all Mbappรฉ and minnows. Turning up and getting behind it scores too โ€” your commissioner has the final say on these.

SocialistAttending a prearranged live event.
PublicistWatching a group-stage game at the pub (photo proof).
AtmospheristWatching a knockout game at the pub.
Suited upWatching wearing your team jersey.
Hand-me-downsWatching at home in team colours (judged by commissioner).
Cups of the worldDrinking a beer from a T2 nation while watching (once per game).
GeosnackerEating food from a T2 nation while watching (once per game).
Panini pointsBring a packet of Panini stickers to an in-person event.
Plus ad-hoc challengesOn-the-day dares set by your commissioner โ€” guess the anthem, name the bench, whatever they dream up.

How points land

Match results and your teams' progress score automatically from the live World Cup feed. Player stats, social points and on-the-day challenges are awarded by your league commissioner. Predictions are graded once the real answer is known. Everything lands on the leaderboard as one running total โ€” check back often, the table moves fast.