Rules
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Predicting Match Results
Predict the final score of all the matches in the tournament/competition. You have until the start of a match to add or change your prediction. The server time is used. No discussion about that, so please be on time if you want to fill in your scores.
At the beginning of the tournament, the matches in the next stages are not yet filled. Once the teams are through to the next round, I will add them. Score predictions for these games can also be changed until before the games start.
How does this system work?
In the group phase, the scores at the end of the game are used to calculate the points. For final rounds, the score at the end of the game, including extra time, is used. Goals in a penalty shoot-out are not taken into consideration.
You get points for predicting the correct match winner or a draw. We call this the toto score. Of course, you get points if you predict the exact number of goals scored. We call this the full score. If you got part of the score correct, you get a goal bonus, even if you didn’t get the match result correct (e.g., the match ends in 1-1, and you predicted 0-1, you will still get 1 point). The last scoring option is the goal difference bonus: if you predict the correct winner but not the exact score, and you predict the correct goal difference, you get the goal difference bonus (e.g., you predicted 3-1 or 4-2 and the result is 2-0).
The points add up depending on the above. Expand below to see the point system as well as some examples:
| Points | |
|---|---|
| toto score | 2 |
| full score | 3 |
| goal bonus | 1 |
| goal difference bonus | 1 |
| bonus question | vary per question |
| Match Result | User Predicted | Total Points Scored |
|---|---|---|
| 3-1 | 1-0 | toto points. total = 2 |
| 3-1 | 2-0 | toto points plus goal difference bonus for the correct goal difference (2 goals difference). total = 2 + 1 = 3 |
| 3-1 | 3-0 | toto points plus goal bonus for the correct amount of goals for the home team. total = 2 + 1 = 3 |
| 2-1 | 2-1 | full points plus two times the goal bonus for the correct amount of goals for the home team and the away team. total = 3 + 1 + 1 = 5 |
| 2-1 | 1-1 | goal bonus for the correct amount of goals for the away team. total = 1 |
| 2-1 | 0-0 | no points |
| 1-1 | 1-1 | full points plus two times the goal bonus for the correct amount of goals for the home team and the away team. total = 3 + 1 + 1 = 5 |
| 1-1 | 0-0 | toto points. total = 2 |
The golden ball
Each player has 3 (three) golden balls to use throughout the tournament. If you select this ball next to a match, the score for that match is multiplied by 2. So, if you’re very lucky, you will mark your 5-point game with the golden ball, which would give you 10 points! You may place the golden balls next to any match, and you can change your mind and move the golden ball as long as this match is still changeable. The golden ball is activated once the match prediction is locked. Once activated, the golden ball cannot be moved. You can apply it to any game in the tournament.
The bonus questions
You can earn extra points with the bonus questions. These questions must be answered before the tournament commences (June 11th).
Bonus #1: pick the 2026 World Cup winner
Choose the team that, in your opinion, will be the 2026 World Cup winner. If your guess is correct, you’ll get 7 bonus points.
Bonus #2: pick 3 top goalscorers
Pick exactly 3 players that, in your opinion, will score the most goals (penalty shootouts do not count, but penalty kicks during the game do). Your players will get points for every goal scored (2 points), every hat-trick / three goals in one match (3 points), every assist (1 point), as well as a scored penalty shot in a penalty shootout (1 point).
See who has the best odds of scoring the most goals according to Bwin, FanDuel or other (out of many) betting sites that show you current odds in this or other bets. If a player or players you want to choose are not listed, let Michael know, and he will add them to the list.
With this pool format, we will NOT be making an exchange of one of your players during the tournament.
Example: One of your picks is Harry Kane, and he scores 4 goals in the game against Panama. This means you get 8 points for the goals (4×2), plus 3 points for a hat-trick, for a total of 11 points.
Bonus #3: pick the Top Team goalscorer
Pick a player from one team (could be your favourite team or another) who will score the most goals for that country in this tournament. Goals scored in penalty shootouts don’t count here. If a player you want to choose is not listed, let Michael know, and he will add him to the list. If your guess is correct, you’ll get 5 points.
Bonus #4: pick a country with the best goalkeeper(s)
NEW! Pick one country whose goalkeeper(s), in your opinion, will record the most games with clean sheets (no goals conceded). Your goalkeeper(s) will get points for every match with a clean sheet (2 points), every saved penalty during the game or penalty shootout (1 point). Assists (1 point), goals scored during games (2 points) and in penalty shootouts (1 point) will also be rewarded.
Example: Your pick is a goalkeeper from Paraguay. He saves 2 penalty shots, and Paraguay wins 1:0 against the USA. This means you get 2 points for the clean sheet plus 2 points for saving penalties twice, for a total of 4 extra points.
Bonus #5: pick the number of goals by the top goalscorer
Pick the number of goals the top scorer of the 2026 World Cup will score (penalty shootouts do not count). If your guess is correct, you’ll get 5 points.
Bonus #6: pick the group with the most goals
Pick a group in which the most goals will be scored. If your guess is correct, you’ll get 5 points.
Bonus #7: pick the team that will score the most goals in the tournament
Pick a team that will score the most goals in the tournament. If your guess is correct, you’ll get 5 points.
Bonus #8: pick the number of goals in the final
Pick how many goals will be scored in the 2026 World Cup final (excluding penalty shoot-out). If your guess is correct, you’ll get 5 points.
Same ranking?
When multiple players have the same number of points, then the following sorting rules are applied to the ranking (the most important one at the top):
- number of full scores;
- number of toto scores;
- number of correct bonus questions.
Registration
Registration for the pool is easy. All you have to do is think of a login name and a valid email address. If you participated in the Euro 2024 or the 2022 World Cup pool, log in with your email and password (find the corresponding links under the Register button). If you ever lose your password, you can reset it. Or ask Michael to help you with it.
Ready?