● Football World Cup 2026 · Bracket guideOcaso Arena — Tournament Prediction Arena

Run a Private World Cup 2026 Bracket

48 teams, 12 groups, 104 matches across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Ocaso Arena gives you a free, ad-free bracket where you and your friends pick every score, lock predictions at kickoff, and climb a live leaderboard for bragging rights.

  • 48 teams
  • 12 groups
  • 104 matches
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Create your free bracket

Free to play. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by FIFA. Tournament and team names used nominatively for identification only.

Tournament window

Opening matchThursday, 11 June 2026 · 19:00 UTCEstadio Azteca, Mexico City2:00 pm local · Mexico City
FinalSunday, 19 July 2026 · 19:00 UTCMetLife Stadium, New York / New Jersey3:00 pm local · New York

Times shown in UTC (GMT). See the full schedule and live bracket in your timezone

How the bracket works

1. Create a private league

Spin up a league in seconds, share an invite link, and lock the roster before the tournament kicks off.

2. Predict every match

Pick scores for all 72 group-stage matches plus the 32 knockout fixtures: Round of 32 through the Final.

3. Picks lock 30 minutes before kickoff

Every prediction is sealed 30 minutes before the first whistle. No late edits, no sneaky updates after the team news lands.

4. Climb the leaderboard

Exact scores beat correct outcomes. Track form, momentum, and head-to-head positions live.

The 12 groups at a glance

48 teams are split into 12 groups of four. Each team plays three group matches. The top two from each group plus the eight highest-ranked third-placed teams advance to the Round of 32.

GroupA
TeamWorld Ranking
  • Mexico13
  • Korea Republic22
  • Czechia43
  • South Africa61
GroupB
TeamWorld Ranking
  • Switzerland19
  • Canada30
  • Qatar56
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina64
GroupC
TeamWorld Ranking
  • Brazil6
  • Morocco7
  • Scotland41
  • Haiti83
GroupD
TeamWorld Ranking
  • USA17
  • Türkiye23
  • Australia27
  • Paraguay40
GroupE
TeamWorld Ranking
  • Germany10
  • Ecuador24
  • Côte d'Ivoire33
  • Curaçao82
GroupF
TeamWorld Ranking
  • Netherlands8
  • Japan18
  • Sweden38
  • Tunisia45
GroupG
TeamWorld Ranking
  • Belgium9
  • IR Iran20
  • Egypt29
  • New Zealand85
GroupH
TeamWorld Ranking
  • Spain2
  • Uruguay16
  • Saudi Arabia60
  • Cabo Verde67
GroupI
TeamWorld Ranking
  • France3
  • Senegal15
  • Norway31
  • Iraq57
GroupJ
TeamWorld Ranking
  • Argentina1
  • Austria25
  • Algeria28
  • Jordan63
GroupK
TeamWorld Ranking
  • Portugal5
  • Colombia14
  • Congo DR46
  • Uzbekistan50
GroupL
TeamWorld Ranking
  • England4
  • Croatia11
  • Panama34
  • Ghana73

Knockout path: Round of 32 to the Final

  • Round of 32: 16 matches (M73 to M88)
  • Round of 16: 8 matches
  • Quarter-finals: 4 matches
  • Semi-finals: 2 matches
  • Third-place play-off
  • Final

Scoring: exact picks beat correct outcomes

  • 5 pts · Exact 90-minute score
  • 3 pts · Correct result (win, draw, loss)
  • +3 pts · Knockout bonus when you call the advancing team

Scoring is based on the 90-minute result. Extra time and penalties do not change your score or result points: a draw at full-time stays a draw for scoring, even if a team wins on penalties.

Why Ocaso Arena

No ads. No leaderboards selling your data. No fees, no payouts, no wagers. Just a bit of fun and banter between mates, friends, family, and colleagues, all for bragging rights.

  • No ads
  • No data resold
  • Just for bragging rights

Frequently asked questions

How does the 2026 World Cup format work?

48 teams are drawn into 12 groups of 4. The top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams advance to a 32-team knockout bracket: Round of 32, Round of 16, Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, the third-place play-off, and the Final.

How many matches are in the bracket?

104 in total — 72 group-stage matches and 32 knockout matches (including the third-place play-off and Final).

When does the World Cup 2026 start?

11 June 2026. The Final is on 19 July 2026. Matches are played across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Is Ocaso Arena affiliated with FIFA?

No. Ocaso Arena is an independent prediction product. Tournament and team names are used nominatively for identification only. Predictions have no monetary value.

How much does it cost?

Free. There are no fees, no payouts, and no wagers: bragging rights only.

Ready to run your World Cup 2026 bracket?

Create a free account, spin up a private league, and share the invite link with your friends or coworkers. Picks lock at the first whistle.

Start my bracket