Group-stage picks are the foundation of a good bracket. The expanded format gives you 12 groups to rank, plus third-place choices that shape the Round of 32.
Every group has four teams, and your bracket starts by predicting the finishing order in all 12 — first through fourth. WC Predictor supports the full 12-group layout, so you can lock in your group-stage picks and adjust them as you refine your bracket.
For each group, you predict first, second, third, and fourth place. Correct top-two picks matter, but third-place accuracy also feeds into the best third-place advancement step.
Knockout predictions are only as strong as the group-stage foundation underneath them. A bold group upset can open a path for a different semifinalist or champion pick.
Your knockout bracket is only as strong as the group stage underneath it. The teams you advance decide every Round of 32 matchup, and a single bold upset can open a new path to a different semifinalist or champion. Nail the groups and the rest falls into place.
Yes. The 48 teams have been drawn into 12 groups of four. In WC Predictor you rank all four teams in every group to build your group-stage predictions.
There are 12 groups in the 2026 format, each with four teams.
Yes. Third-place picks matter because eight third-place teams advance to the knockout stage.
Yes. You can edit group-stage picks as often as you like until predictions lock when the tournament begins on June 11, 2026.