World Cup 2026 Prediction Game

North Campus · Univ. of Tulsa · Petroleum Engineering

Game Rules & Scoring

Disclaimer: This is a recreational prediction game for office use.

How to Play

Making Predictions
  • Predict the final score of each match.
  • For knockout matches, you must also predict which team advances (in case of a penalty shootout).
  • You can optionally predict just the outcome (Win/Draw/Loss).
Submission Deadlines

Submission deadlines are strictly 1 day before that set of matches begins.

  • Group Games 1: Until tournament start date (Jun 11).
  • Group Games 2: Until the midnight of the Group Games 1 stage.
  • Group Games 3: Until the midnight of the Group Games 2 stage.
  • Knockout Rounds: Deadlines will be set progressively prior to each round's start.
Total Points Available
Group Stages
  • Group Games 1 (24 matches): 2,400 pts
  • Group Games 2 (24 matches): 2,400 pts
  • Group Games 3 (24 matches): 2,400 pts
Knockout Stages
  • Top 32 (16 matches): 2,400 pts
  • Top 16 (8 matches): 1,600 pts
  • Quarter Finals (4 matches): 1,600 pts
  • Semi Finals (2 matches): 1,600 pts
  • Finals & 3rd Place (2 matches): 3,200 pts
Bonus Picks
  • Top Goalscorer: 500 pts
  • Most Assists: 500 pts
  • Total Max: 16,200 pts

Match Scoring

Group Stage
Prediction Accuracy Points Awarded
Exact Score 100% 100
Correct Goal Difference 75% 75
Correct Result Only 50% 50
Wrong Result 0% 0
Knockout Stages

Scores are for **90 minutes of regular time** (excluding extra time or penalty shootouts). Since a winner must advance, points are awarded based on your 90-minute prediction and who actually moves on.

Base Points per Round
Round Last 32 Last 16 Quarter-Finals Semi-Finals Finals & 3rd Place
Base Points (100%) 150 pts 200 pts 400 pts 800 pts 1600 pts
Win/Loss Prediction

If you predict a team to win in 90 minutes (e.g. 2-1 or 3-0), that predicted winner is automatically assumed to be your chosen advancing team.

Prediction Accuracy % of Base Last 32 Last 16 Quarter Semi Final
Exact Score 100% 150 200 400 800 1600
Correct Goal Difference 75% 113 150 300 600 1200
Correct Result Only 50% 75 100 200 400 800
Case A Examples (Last 32 Round - Base 150 pts):
  • Exact Score (150 pts): You predict Germany 2–1 Paraguay. Actual score is 2–1. Germany wins and advances.
  • Correct Goal Diff (113 pts): You predict Germany 2–0 Paraguay. Actual score is 3–1. Germany wins and advances (both have +2 goal difference).
  • Correct Result (75 pts): You predict Germany 3–1 Paraguay. Actual score is 1–0. Germany wins and advances.
Draw-Tie Prediction

If you predict a Draw in 90 minutes (e.g. 1-1 or 2-2), you **must** select which team will eventually advance (either in Extra Time or Penalty Shootout).

Prediction Accuracy % of Base Last 32 Last 16 Quarter Semi Final
Exact tied score + Correct Advancing Team 100% 150 200 400 800 1600
Exact tied score + Wrong Advancing Team 90% 135 180 360 720 1440
Correct Draw Result + Correct Advancing Team 75% 113 150 300 600 1200
Correct Draw Result + Wrong Advancing Team 50% 75 100 200 400 800
Case B Examples (Last 32 Round - Base 150 pts):
  • Exact tied score + Correct Advancing Team (150 pts): You predict Spain 1–1 Morocco (Spain advances). Actual score is 1–1, Spain wins shootout and advances.
  • Exact tied score + Wrong Advancing Team (135 pts): You predict Spain 1–1 Morocco (Morocco advances). Actual score is 1–1, but Spain wins shootout and advances.
  • Correct Draw + Correct Advancing Team (113 pts): You predict Spain 2–2 Morocco (Spain advances). Actual score is 1–1, Spain wins shootout and advances.
  • Correct Draw + Wrong Advancing Team (75 pts): You predict Spain 2–2 Morocco (Morocco advances). Actual score is 1–1, but Spain wins shootout and advances.

Leaderboard Tiebreakers

  1. Total Points
  2. Number of Exact Scores
  3. Match Points (excluding Bonus Points)
  4. Bonus Points