Overview
The Knockout Stage Only Survivor is a single-phase survival contest built around the 2026 World Cup knockout bracket. Pick 1 team per round to win their match — survive every round to claim the prize. This format mirrors the familiar March Madness Survivor pick-by-round experience.
How It Works
Commissioners select which knockout rounds to include (minimum 4 slates required).
Each round, entrants pick 1 team to win their match (or 2 if Double Pick Rounds are enabled).
A correct pick advances your entry to the next round.
An incorrect pick eliminates your entry.
The last surviving entry wins the contest.
The available rounds are: Round of 32, Round of 16, Round of 8 (Quarterfinals), Round of 4 (Semifinals), and the Final. The 3rd-place match is not included.
Commissioner Settings
1. Entry Deadline (New)
Commissioners can select from the following entry deadline options:
Tuesday, June 30 @ 1:00 PM ET (Default)
Sunday, June 28 @ 3:00 PM ET
Monday, June 29 @ 1:00 PM ET
Wednesday, July 1 @ 12:00 PM ET
Thursday, July 2 @ 3:00 PM ET
Friday, July 3 @ 2:00 PM ET
This setting is available until all Round of 32 games begin. The entry deadline can be pushed back until the initial deadline passes, or moved earlier if done at least 24 hours in advance.
2. Pick Deadline
Each Game Start (Default) — Picks lock at the start of each individual game.
First Game of Each Round — All picks lock when the first game of the round begins.
Important: If "First game of each round" is selected and the entry deadline is later than Sunday, June 28 @ 3:00 PM ET, the pick deadline for the first slate will match the contest entry deadline. This applies only to contests starting in the Round of 32.
3. Team Use Limit
Once (Default) — Each team can only be picked one time.
Twice — Each team can be picked up to two times.
Unlimited — Teams can be picked as many times as desired.
4. Automatic Picks (New)
Toggle on/off — Off by default
When enabled, the system will automatically submit a pick for any entrant who does not make their selection before the deadline.
Max auto picks allowed: Unlimited (default) or limit to 1–3 autopicks per entry.
Autopick strategies (entrant's choice):
Assign the best available team by World Ranking (Default)
Assign the best available team by win probability of their match
Entrants can change their preferred strategy at any time.
If an entrant has no eligible teams remaining, they receive no autopick.
5. Buybacks / Entry Revivals (New)
Toggle on/off — Off by default
Allows eliminated entrants to pay a revival fee and re-enter the contest.
Revival deadline: Round of 16 (the only available option for this template).
Buybacks are not available for contests starting in the Round of 16 or later.
Revival fee options: Same as entry fee (default), double the entry fee, or triple the entry fee.
Revivals per entry: One (default).
Note: Users cannot revive an eliminated entry until the current slate concludes. They then have until the start of the next round to revive and submit a pick. Revival fees are added to the total prize pool once the revival deadline passes or the contest ends — whichever comes first.
6. Double Pick Rounds
Toggle on/off — Off by default
When enabled for a round, entrants must make 2 correct picks to advance. Available for: Round of 32, Round of 16, Round of 8.
Note: The first slate can only be added for double picks, not removed once the contest has begun.
7. Entry Lives
1 total life (Default) — Eliminated after one loss.
2 total lives — Eliminated after two losses.
3 total lives — Eliminated after three losses.
8. Contest Revivals
Toggle on/off — Off by default
When enabled, if all remaining entries are eliminated in the same round, the contest is automatically revived and continues to the next round.
9. Tiebreaker
Toggle on/off — Off by default
Tiebreaker is based on the cumulative win margin (goal difference) of each entrant's picks — wins and losses both count toward the score. The highest cumulative score wins the tiebreaker.
Example: If your pick wins 3–1, +2 is added to your score. If your next pick loses 4–1, your cumulative score goes to −1.
10. 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.
Editing Rules
All settings can be edited up until 48 hours before the first game of the contest.
After the contest begins, no settings can be changed.
Entry Deadline: Can be pushed back until the initial deadline passes. Can only be moved earlier if done at least 24 hours in advance.
Double Pick Rounds: The first slate can only be added, not removed.
Questions? Email support@splashsports.com.