How do I enter?
There are two links, one for each phase. Phase 1 is your group-stage picks; Phase 2 is the knockout bracket. Open the link, make your picks, and submit. No account or password needed.
Do I need an entry code?
Yes. The first time you submit your group picks, you get an entry code. We show it on screen and email it to you. You need that code together with your email to load or change your picks in either phase. It keeps anyone else from seeing or changing your entry.
Why are there two separate links?
Phase 2's bracket can only be built once the group stage finishes and the real 32 qualifiers are known. So you pick groups first, then come back later for the bracket.
When does Phase 1 lock?
Midnight on June 10th, when the group stage kicks off. Get your group picks in before then.
When does Phase 2 open and lock?
It opens once the groups wrap and the qualifiers are set. It locks when the Round of 32 kicks off on June 28th.
What happens if I miss a deadline?
Once a phase locks, that form is closed and picks cannot be submitted or changed for it. The phases lock independently, so missing one does not affect the other.
What is the entry code for?
It is your key. Together with your email, it lets you load your saved picks and make changes, and it stops anyone else from opening or editing your entry.
Where do I find it?
It appears on screen the first time you submit your group picks, and we email it to you at the same time. Keep that email - it is the only copy we send.
What if I lose my entry code?
Check the email we sent when you first entered; your code is in it. If you still cannot find it, contact the organizer, who can look it up.
Do I need the code the very first time?
No. Your first group-stage submission creates your entry and your code. After that, you need the code plus your email to load or change anything.
Can I change my picks after submitting?
Yes, any time before that phase locks. Re-open the link, enter your email and entry code, and use Load my saved picks (Phase 1) or Load my saved bracket (Phase 2) to pull up what you submitted. Edit it and resubmit. Your latest submission is the one that counts.
Will I lose my group picks if I edit my bracket, or the other way around?
No. The two phases are stored separately and do not overwrite each other.
How does scoring work?
Three parts, 338 points maximum:
- Group stage (96): rank all four teams in each of the 12 groups - exact spot scores 2, one place off scores 1, two or more off scores 0.
- Up-front champion (50): your title pick before kickoff, 50 points if they win it all.
- Knockout bracket (192): points for how far each team you advance actually goes - Round of 16 is 2, Quarter-final is 5, Semi-final is 10, Final is 15. If your bracket champion goes all the way, add 25 plus a 25 bonus.
Why is so much weighting in the knockouts?
By design. A quiet group stage is not the end of the world. Most of the competition is decided later, so it stays interesting deep into the tournament.
Do I really not have to figure out the third-place qualifiers?
Correct. The bracket is built after the groups, with the real qualifiers already slotted in. You just pick winners.
How do I see where I stand?
The leaderboard updates automatically as entries come in and as results are recorded. It is always sorted by rank, with 1st place at the top.
When do my points appear?
Scoring is automatic. Group points update as group results are entered; knockout points update as each round finishes.
Can I see or change other people's picks?
No. You can only open your own entry, and only with your own email and code.
Anything I should not do?
Edit only your own picks, and do not make changes once games are under way. Every submission is timestamped, and each phase is locked at its deadline.
The page says picks are locked. Why?
That phase has hit its deadline, or it has not opened yet. The leaderboard stays viewable either way.
Load my picks says no entry matches that email and code.
Check that you are using the exact email you entered with (it is not case-sensitive) and the right entry code, which is in the email we sent when you first entered. A different email address counts as a different person. If you cannot find your code, contact the organizer.