2026 Bracket of Nations

Enter the 2026 Bracket of Nations for your chance to win $500! Pick the winners of this summer's biggest soccer tournament and prove your predictions right.

BY BEN ANDREE

May 26, 2026, 8:13 AM Updated: Jul 21, 2026, 9:03 am

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🏆 Bracket of Nations

The world’s biggest soccer tournament is coming to North America — and your predictions are on the line.

Forty-eight nations. Three host countries. One champion. This summer, the planet’s most-watched sporting event kicks off across the United States, Canada, and Mexico — and Bracket of Nations puts you in the manager’s chair. Study the groups, trust your instincts, and prove you know the beautiful game better than everyone else.

How to Play

🌍 Step 1: Pick Your Group Play Teams

Deadline: June 11

The tournament begins with 48 nations divided into 12 groups. Before a single whistle blows, select the 2 teams you believe will advance from each group, plus a wild card pick in up to 8 groups — that’s 32 total advancing teams. Fortune favors the bold, so do your homework and lock in your selections before the action starts.

📋 Step 2: Fill Out Your Bracket

Deadline: June 28

Once Group Play wraps on June 25, it’s time to map out the road to glory. Predict the winner of all 31 knockout-round matches — from the Round of 32 all the way to the Final. Your bracket picks lock on June 28, so don’t wait until the last minute. (Okay, you can wait until the last minute — just don’t miss it.)

⚽ Step 3: Score Points

This is where it gets fun:

Phase	Points
Group Play	1 point per correct advancing-team pick
Round of 32	1 point per correct match winner
Round of 16	2 points per correct match winner
Quarterfinals	4 points per correct match winner
Semifinals	8 points per correct match winner
Final	16 points for picking the champion

Bracket points double each round, so a deep run of correct picks can vault you up the leaderboard in a hurry.

🥇 Step 4: Claim Victory

Tournament ends: July 19

The player with the most total points when the final whistle sounds on July 19 wins. Tied at the top? Tiebreakers are determined by predicting final scores — the closer your prediction to the actual result, the better your position.

Key Dates at a Glance

Date	Milestone
June 11	Group Play picks lock
June 11 – 25	Group Play matches
June 25	Group Play concludes
June 28	Bracket picks lock
June 28 – July 19	Knockout rounds
July 19	Champion crowned, winner declared