Bracket Predictor

The 2026 World Cup features 48 teams divided into 12 groups of 4. Each team plays 3 group stage matches. The top 2 teams from each group (24 teams) automatically advance, along with the 8 best third-place finishers from across all 12 groups, creating a 32-team knockout bracket. The knockout stage is single-elimination, meaning one loss and you're out. Teams progress through the Round of 32, Round of 16, Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, and the Final. If matches are tied after 90 minutes, they go to extra time (30 minutes) and then penalty shootouts if needed.

From each of the 12 groups, the 1st and 2nd place teams automatically qualify for the knockout stage, totaling 24 teams. In addition to these guaranteed qualifiers, the 8 best third-place teams across all 12 groups also advance. Third-place teams are ranked by points, goal difference, goals scored, and fair play record. This creates exactly 32 teams for the knockout bracket, which begins with a Round of 32 — a new stage introduced specifically for the expanded 48-team format. The bottom 4 third-place teams and all 4th-place teams are eliminated.

Using our interactive predictor is simple: First, drag and drop teams within each of the 12 groups to predict the final group standings (1st through 4th place). Next, select exactly 8 of the 12 third-place teams you think will advance using the toggle buttons. Finally, work through the knockout bracket by clicking on teams to advance them to the next round, all the way from the Round of 32 to the Final. Your predictions automatically save to your browser's local storage, so you won't lose progress. When finished, click the Share button to generate a unique URL you can send to friends.

Absolutely! Unlike many bracket predictors that start at the knockout stage, ours begins with the group stage so you can make complete predictions. Simply drag and drop the 4 teams within each group to arrange them in your predicted finishing order: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place. Once you've ranked all 12 groups, your predictions automatically populate the knockout bracket with the correct matchups based on FIFA's official bracket structure. If you change a group prediction later, the knockout bracket updates accordingly, though any affected matches will be cleared so you can re-pick them.

After you've predicted all 12 group standings, you'll see a list of the 12 third-place teams from your predictions. You must select exactly 8 of these 12 teams to advance to the knockout stage by toggling them on or off. In the real tournament, FIFA will rank third-place teams by points, goal difference, and goals scored to determine which 8 qualify. Our predictor lets you manually choose which 8 you think will make the cut. Once selected, these 8 teams are automatically placed into their designated Round of 32 matchups according to FIFA's predetermined bracket structure, which is designed to avoid same-group rematches early on.

No account, login, or signup is required. Your bracket predictions are automatically saved to your browser's local storage as you make selections, so you can return anytime and continue where you left off. To share your bracket with friends or on social media, simply complete your predictions and click the Share button. This generates a unique URL with your predictions encoded in it. Anyone with the link can view your bracket. It's completely free to use with no email required.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off on June 11, 2026, and runs through the Final on July 19, 2026, spanning 39 days of competition. Matches will be played across 16 venues in three host nations: the United States (11 cities), Mexico (3 cities), and Canada (2 cities). This is the first time in World Cup history that three countries have jointly hosted the tournament. It's also the first World Cup in North America since 1994 (USA) and the first time Mexico will host since 1986.