The 2026 World Cup expands from 32 to 48 teams, which required several updates to the World Cup Bracket contest format. Here's what's changed for commissioners running a contest this year compared to previous World Cups.

The Group Stage data model has been updated to support 12 groups (A–L) instead of 8. Commissioner setup and scoring work the same way — there are simply more groups to configure.

Max possible Group Stage points example: If 1 point is awarded per correct ranking, members can now earn up to 48 points (vs. 32 previously).

A Round of 32 has been added to the Knockout Stage, adding 16 new matches. The default point values have been updated across all rounds:

Commissioners can still adjust all point values — these are the new defaults.

The tiebreaker prompt has been updated. Members now enter the total number of goals scored across 31 knockout stage games (up from 15 in 2022). This reflects the addition of the Round of 32, which adds 16 new matches to the bracket.

The "Wins by Round" section of the Knockout Stage leaderboard now shows 5 columns (previously 4) to reflect the new Round of 32. Possible Points calculations have been updated to account for all 5 knockout rounds.

Note: If the Group Stage is toggled off, Group Stage columns remain hidden — no change to that behavior.

OFP Contest Migration If you previously ran a World Cup contest on OFP (Office Football Pool), your contest has been migrated to Splash Sports. You can reset your existing contest for the 2026 World Cup the same way you would any other contest on Splash Sports. If you have questions about your migrated contest, contact Support.

All World Cup contest types — including the World Cup Bracket — will be available to create starting May 21, 2026.