Overview
The Group Stage + Knockout Stage Survivor is a two-phase survival contest covering the entire 2026 World Cup — from the opening Group Stage matches on June 11 all the way through the Final on July 19. Be the last entry standing to win the prize pool.
About the 2026 World Cup Survivor Contest
The 2026 World Cup features 48 teams across 12 groups of 4. The top 2 teams from each group automatically advance, plus the 8 best third-place finishers — bringing the total to 32 teams entering the knockout bracket.
Phase 1 — Group Stage
Before the tournament begins, each entrant selects 4 teams they believe will advance out of the Group Stage to the Round of 32.
Picks can come from any group — there is no per-group restriction on selections.
Each team's modeled probability of advancing is displayed on the pick sheet to help inform your selections.
All 4 picks must advance to survive Phase 1. If even one of your selected teams fails to make it out of their group, your entry is eliminated.
The pick sheet locks at the kickoff of the first Group Stage match — June 11, 2026 at 3:00 PM ET. There is no flexibility on this deadline.
Note: No more than 3 teams from the same group can advance (top 2 automatic + up to 1 best third-place finisher), so keep this in mind when selecting multiple teams from the same group.
Phase 2 — Knockout Stage
If all 4 of your Group Stage picks advance, your entry moves to the Knockout Stage. Starting from the Round of 32, you pick 1 team per round to win their match.
A win advances your entry to the next round.
A loss (including a penalty shootout loss) eliminates your entry.
If you run out of eligible teams to pick, your entry is eliminated — this is treated the same as an incorrect pick.
The Knockout Stage schedule is fixed and runs through these rounds:
Round of 32
Round of 16
Quarterfinals (Round of 8)
Semifinals (Round of 4)
Final
Note: The 3rd-place match is not included.
Team Use Limit
Teams you selected in the Group Stage phase count against the team use limit for the Knockout Stage. For example, if the team use limit is set to "Once," a team you chose in Phase 1 cannot be selected again during the Knockout Stage. Plan your Group Stage picks with the full tournament in mind.
Commissioner Settings
Most settings are locked for this template to keep the format straightforward. The following options are configurable:
1. Double Pick Rounds
Toggle on/off — Off by default
When enabled for a round, entrants must make 2 correct picks in that round to advance. One or both incorrect picks results in elimination (or loss of a life). Available for: Round of 32, Round of 16, Round of 8.
2. Team Use Limit
Once (Default) — Each team can only be picked one time across the full contest (both phases).
Twice — Each team can be picked up to two times across the full contest.
Unlimited — Teams can be picked as many times as desired.
3. Entry Lives
1 total life (Default) — Eliminated after one loss.
2 total lives — Eliminated after two losses.
3 total lives — Eliminated after three losses.
Note: Each incorrect Group Stage pick does not individually count as a life. Going 0-for-4 or 3-for-4 on Group Stage selections counts as one lost life.
4. Split Pot Eligibility
Toggle on/off — Off by default
Enables the prize pool to be split if all of the following conditions are met:
Total prize pool exceeds $2,000
The Round of 8 has concluded
10 or fewer entrants remain alive
All remaining entrants unanimously agree to a full or partial split
Full split: Contest ends immediately; prize divided equally among remaining entrants.
Partial split: Half the prize split equally among remaining entrants; other half awarded to the ultimate winner.
Locked Settings
The following settings are fixed and cannot be changed by commissioners:
Group Stage Picks: 4
Picks per Knockout Round: 1 (unless Double Pick Rounds are enabled)
Entry Deadline: June 11 @ first match kickoff
Knockout Stage Pick Deadline: Each Game Start
Schedule: All slates pre-selected
Editing Rules
All editable settings can be changed up until 48 hours before the first game of the contest.
After the contest begins, no settings can be changed.
For Double Pick Rounds: if the first slate already has double picks assigned, that setting cannot be edited. If it does not, double picks can still be added to that slate.
Questions? Email support@splashsports.com.