2026 World Cup · Group Stage · LiveFree to play, no catch
The tournament is live.So is the race.
Your original bracket is locked, but Second Chance is open: build a knockout-only bracket before the Round of 32 kicks off. You can still call results in Match Tips and run what-ifs in the R32 Simulator.
FrancevSpainTue 3:00 PM ET
The 2026 World Cup community so far
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How It Works
Three simple steps to play the free World Cup prediction game and prove your football knowledge.
Create Your Bracket
Set up your prediction bracket with all 48 teams. Predict group standings and knockout winners, all the way to the Final.
Make Predictions
Predict the final group standings directly — or switch to Match Predictor and call every group match. Then pick the advancing third-place teams and fill out the knockout bracket. Your picks, your strategy.
Compete & Win
Join groups with friends and climb the leaderboard as matches are played. Bragging rights are on the line!
Three ways to play
Pick the style that fits you and your group. Every mode has its own global leaderboard.
Quick Standings
RecommendedThe quickest way to a complete bracket
Rank each group's four teams directly. Twelve groups in a few minutes, then best thirds and the full knockout run.
About 5 minutes
Match Predictor
NewCall the result of every match yourself
Pick win, draw or loss for all 72 group matches. Your standings are worked out from your results.
15 to 20 minutes
Match Tips
CasualOne pick per match, no bracket
Call each match as it comes and climb a group leaderboard ranked by correct calls, accuracy and value.
Play match by match
Your mode decides who you play against: a bracket only joins groups and leaderboards of its own mode. Each mode has its own global leaderboard, and you can spin up public or private groups to play with friends.
Try the R32 Simulator
Run what-if knockout scenarios from the Round of 32, see how the bracket plays out, save up to five, and share them as images.
Open the R32 SimulatorEarn Points Your Way
The scoring rewards accurate predictions at every stage. The points below are for Quick Standings; Match Predictor earns 10 points per correct match result for the same overall total, while Match Tips is ranked by correct calls, accuracy and value instead of points.
Group Phase
- Group winner20 pts
- Runner-up10 pts
- Third place10 pts
- Perfect group+20 pts
Knockout Phase
- Round of 3230 pts
- Round of 1650 pts
- Quarterfinals80 pts
- Semifinals120 pts
- Champion400 pts
Max Points
- Groups720 pts
- Best Third80 pts
- Round of 32480 pts
- Round of 16400 pts
- Quarterfinals320 pts
- Semifinals240 pts
- Champion400 pts
Join the Competition
Football fans from around the world are already making their predictions.
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Ready to Make Your Predictions?
Everything is free, unlimited brackets, unlimited groups. Create your predictions before the tournament begins!
Download WC Predictor from the App Store
The iOS app is officially live. Make picks on your phone, keep your brackets in sync, and jump back into your groups from anywhere.
Free on web and iPhone. Your account works across both.
Keep the tournament with you
Want launch updates and feature news too? Join the email list below.
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What players are saying
Love using an app I can understand and find the info i need within the app. Easy enough for this grandma to use!
best world cup app by far
Really good, just can’t see what games you get correct. It just says +10 group stage
2026 World Cup guides
Free explainers for the bracket, the 48-team format, office pools, the best third-place rule, and the knockout rounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about playing the free 2026 World Cup bracket game.
Is World Cup Predictor free?
Yes — World Cup Predictor is 100% free. Build your bracket, create private pools, and follow the leaderboard with no paid tiers, no ads, and no catch.
Can I play with friends in a private pool?
Absolutely. Create a private group, share the invite link, and everyone's brackets compete on your own leaderboard — perfect for friends, family, or an office pool.
What do I predict in my bracket?
You predict the 12 group standings, the 8 best third-place teams that advance, and every knockout match from the Round of 32 to the final — the full 2026 World Cup in one bracket.
When do predictions lock?
Your bracket stays editable right up until the first match kicks off on June 11, 2026. After that it locks, and scoring begins as results come in.
Do I need to download an app?
No — you can play free in any web browser. There's also a native iOS app if you'd rather predict and check the leaderboard from your phone.
How does scoring work?
You earn points for correct group standings, best third-place picks, and knockout winners, with later rounds worth more. A flawless bracket is worth up to 2,640 points.
What's the difference between Quick Standings and Match Predictor?
Two prediction modes. Quick Standings has you rank each group's four teams (1st–4th) — the fastest way to fill a bracket. Match Predictor has you predict every group match (win, draw, or loss); your standings are worked out from those results. Both cover Best Third and the knockout bracket, share the same 2,640-point maximum, and are scored on separate leaderboards — so a bracket only competes against others in the same mode.
What are the different group modes?
Groups come in three full-tournament modes. Quick Standings and Match Predictor are both full brackets, scored on separate leaderboards. Match Tips is casual: one pick per match, no bracket. There is also Second Chance, a limited-time knockout-only mode that opens after the group stage. A bracket can only join a group of the same mode, so pick the mode your friends are using.
What is Match Tips?
Match Tips is a casual, group-only mode with no bracket to fill out. You make one pick per match as the tournament unfolds, and a group leaderboard ranks everyone by correct calls first, then accuracy, then value. There is also a global Top Predictors board across all match-tips players.
What is Second Chance mode?
Second Chance is a knockout-only bracket. You skip the group stage and predict every match from the Round of 32 through the final, playing against a projected Round of 32 that firms up as the groups finish. It opens after the group stage and locks at the first Round of 32 kickoff, so even if your main bracket is busted you get a clean run at a fresh leaderboard. It is scored on its own, separate from the full-bracket modes, with up to 1,840 points.