World Cup 2026 How to Play

SmashUp brings its signature twist to the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage. Fill out your 32-team bracket and play SmashCards for bonus points. Compete against friends and/or the entire SmashUp community for the top spot.

TL;DR SmashUp In 3

Join a Bracket Pool

Find a public bracket pool or start one with friends in a Pool Party. Pools open ahead of the Round of 32.

Fill Out Your Bracket

Fill out your bracket before the Round of 32 kicks off June 28, 2026. Pick a winner for every game and apply SmashCards for bonus points.

Watch World Cup 2026

Leaderboards update as games are played, though there may be a short delay as our team enters results. Subscribe to our newsletter to be notified when bracket pools open!

Feeling lost? Join our Discord community for strategy, tips, discussion, and answers to your questions!

Pick Winners

The knockout stage runs from June 28 through the Final on July 19. You will fill out all 32 games prior to kickoff.

  • Round of 32: June 28 to July 3
  • Round of 16: July 4 to July 7
  • Quarter Finals: July 9 to July 11
  • Semi Finals: July 14 to July 15
  • Third Place: July 18
  • Final: July 19

You can enter your bracket as soon as the pool opens, and change any pick freely until kickoff. The whole bracket locks when the first Round of 32 game kicks off, so don't forget to get your picks in before the action starts!

While the group stage is still in progress, some slots will show placeholder labels (e.g. "Winner A" or the two most likely qualifiers). Pick whichever team you think will take that slot. Once group stage concludes and the real team is revealed, the team that takes that slot will become your pick.

Short on time? Tap the ⚡ lightning pick button to auto-fill the remaining games.

Play Cards

SmashCards earn you bonus points based on game outcomes. Each pool gives you a budget, but you won't be able to afford them all, so choose wisely!

Team Cards

Applied to a specific team

Follow one team's run through the knockout rounds. Cards like Underdog award 2 points each match your team wins as the lower FIFA-ranked side, while Bottle Job pays 20 points if your team reaches the Final and loses it. One team card per team.

Bracket Cards

Applied to your entire bracket

SmashCards tally match-by-match conditions across all 32 knockout games. Cards like Squeaky Bum Time reward extra-time finishes, while Fox in the Box pays for penalty shootouts and Clean Sheets pays per clean sheet.

Browse all World Cup SmashCards

Score Points

You earn points for correct picks, with later rounds worth significantly more. SmashCards give you a second lever to pull, bonus points based on game conditions that reward sharp strategy and bold predictions.

Points Per Correct Pick

By Round

  • Round of 32 1 pt
  • Round of 16 2 pts
  • Quarter Finals 4 pts
  • Semi Finals 8 pts
  • Third Place 8 pts
  • Final 16 pts

Maximum Points

Without Cards

  • Round of 32 (16 games) 16 pts
  • Round of 16 (8 games) 16 pts
  • Quarter Finals (4 games) 16 pts
  • Semi Finals (2 games) 16 pts
  • Third Place (1 game) 8 pts
  • Final (1 game) 16 pts
Perfect Bracket 88 pts

Ways to Play

Bracket Pool

Bracket Pool

Compete in public World Cup bracket pools.

Open to the entire SmashUp community. Enter your bracket, apply cards, and compete for the top spot.

Browse Bracket Pools
Pool Party

Pool Party

Challenge your friends!

Create a private competition with friends, family, or coworkers.

Browse Pool Parties

Frequently Asked Questions

When do bracket pools open?

As soon as admins set up a pool. You can enter and edit your bracket right away. Picks lock when the first Round of 32 game kicks off on June 28.

What if I pick a placeholder team?

Before group stage ends, some bracket slots will show placeholder labels. Pick whichever team you think will end up there. Once groups conclude and admins assign the real team, your pick becomes whatever team fills that slot.

Can I change my picks after entering?

Yes! Picks and cards can be changed until the first Round of 32 game kicks off. After that the bracket is locked for the rest of the tournament. You do not need to save or lock a bracket entry, all entries are entered as they are when the knockout round kicks off.

Do I need to use SmashCards?

You don't have to, but you should! Every pool gives you a card budget, so spend it to climb the leaderboard.

How are leaderboards updated?

Leaderboards recalculate as results are entered. There may be a short delay as our team enters scores.

How much does it cost to play?

SmashUp is completely free!

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