How it works
Three steps. No setup fee. No app to download.
Predict every match
Enter your exact-score prediction for each of the 104 fixtures. Auto-saves as you type. Change anything until kick-off.
Pick the winner
Choose your tournament-winner bonus pick before the opener. 10 points if they lift the trophy, 5 points if they reach the final.
Compete with mates
Share an invite code, create a private mini-league, and watch your scoreboard against your friends update after every match.
How scoring works
Simple, transparent, and rewards knowledge over luck. Three tiers per match, plus a tournament-winner bonus.
You predicted 2-1 and it finished 2-1.
You predicted a home win and it was a home win, even if the score differed.
Result and score didn't land. Nothing personal - everyone has bad gameweeks.
Tournament winner bonus
Pick which team will win the World Cup before the opening whistle on 11 June. 10 points if they win the trophy. 5 points if they reach the final. One pick per user, locked once the tournament starts.
What's included
Every feature, every match. Free for the full tournament.
Every fixture
All 12 group-stage matchdays, the round of 32, round of 16, quarter-finals, semis, third-place playoff, and final.
Group tables
Live-updating standings for all 12 groups, with the third-placed-team qualification picture made obvious as the tournament unfolds.
Auto-updating scores
Match results sync automatically from official sources. Predictions are scored within minutes of a final whistle.
Knockout bracket
Visual bracket from the round of 32 through to the final, with your predictions and the live scores side by side.
Private mini-leagues
Share an invite code, build a group with your mates, and track who's actually winning the office tournament-not who's loudest.
Tournament-end recap
A personalised wrap-up after the final showing your best matchday, your best prediction, and your standing in every league you joined.
Common questions
How does the World Cup 2026 prediction game work?
You predict the exact score of every match in the 2026 World Cup. 3 points for a perfect score (e.g. you said 2-1 and it ended 2-1), 1 point for the correct result (you said home win and it was a home win, but the score was different). Predictions lock at kick-off. The leaderboard updates automatically as results come in.
Is it free?
Yes. Every part of the World Cup mode is free. No subscriptions, no in-app purchases, no premium tier required to predict any of the 104 matches. The Premier League side of the product has an optional Premium tier with insights and reminder times, but the World Cup is free for everyone.
When does the World Cup 2026 start?
The opening match is Mexico vs South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on Thursday 11 June 2026, kick-off 19:00 local time (01:00 BST overnight to 12 June). The tournament runs through 19 July 2026.
Can I still join after the tournament has started?
Yes. You can sign up at any point during the tournament and start predicting from the next available match. You will miss the points from matches already played, but you can still compete on the leaderboard from your first prediction onwards.
What is the tournament-winner bonus pick?
Before the opening match, you pick which team you think will win the tournament. If your pick wins the trophy, you get 10 bonus points. If they reach the final, you get 5 bonus points. You can change your pick any time before the opening whistle on 11 June and then it is locked for the rest of the tournament.
How does the 48-team format work?
12 groups of 4 teams each. The top 2 from every group plus the best 8 of the 12 third-placed teams qualify for the round of 32. From there it is straight knockout: round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, final. 104 matches across 39 days.
Can I play with friends?
Yes, and we recommend it. Create a private mini-league, share the invite code with your mates (WhatsApp, iMessage, email), and you will have your own leaderboard to compete on alongside the global one. You can join multiple leagues if your friends and your colleagues both want a group.
Is this gambling?
No. ScoreBadger is not a gambling product. There are no real-money stakes, no odds, no bookmakers, and no payouts. It is a free skill-based prediction game where you compete for bragging rights and leaderboard positions. No 18+ age gate is required because no betting is involved.
What happens if I miss a match deadline?
The fixture locks at kick-off without a prediction from you and you score 0 for that match. The next match resets and you can predict it normally. You do not get penalised for missed matches beyond losing the available points for that specific fixture.
Do you support knockout-stage extra time and penalties?
Predictions and scoring use the 90-minute result only. A match that goes to extra time and is decided on penalties is scored against the 90-minute scoreline you predicted. Extra-time and penalty results do not affect your match prediction points.
How to Run a World Cup 2026 Mini-League With Your Friends
A practical guide to setting up and running a World Cup 2026 mini-league with friends, family, or colleagues. Setup, invites, banter, and how to keep everyone engaged for the full 39 days.
Brazil at the 2026 World Cup: A Prediction Guide
How to predict Brazil's 2026 World Cup matches. The squad, the attacking ceiling, the recurring quarter-final problem, and the scorelines worth backing across the bracket.
Common World Cup Prediction Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
Seven prediction mistakes that quietly cost most players points across a World Cup. Recency bias, sentiment picks, over-confidence in favourites, and how to actually fix them before kick-off.