How does scoring work for FULL?
10pts for an exact score, 5pts for the right goal difference, 3pts for the correct result. In knockout rounds, predict a draw and you're also picking the match to go to penalties — get the right pen winner and earn +2 on top of your score points.
How does scoring work for FAST?
Groups: 15pts for exact position, 8pts if they qualified but in a different spot. You get one or the other per team. Third-place qualifiers: 8pts for each correct pick in your ranked top 8. From the Round of 32 onwards, scoring works the same as FULL — predict exact scores, penalties, and earn up to +2 for calling the right pen winner.
When will real scores be populated?
Live scores update automatically during the World Cup (Jun 11 – Jul 19, 2026). Points calculate in real time as matches are played. Just check back after each game.
What's the difference between a Captain and a Player?
The Captain creates the pool, sets the game version and stakes, and is the only one who can manage the Prize Pot (protected by their Captain PIN). The Captain is also the only one who can remove players from the pool — this option appears in the Pool tab and is not visible to regular players. Players join via the pool code, make predictions, and see the same leaderboard. Both can share the pool link.
How much does it cost to set up a pool?
The Captain pays a one-time fee to activate the pool — $19 for a pool of up to 11 players, $29 for up to 20 players, or $39 for up to 30 players. That's it. No subscriptions, no per-player charges, no hidden fees. Everyone else in the pool joins and plays completely free.
Do I have to pay to play?
No. Buy-ins are entirely optional and managed directly between players — BracketGoals never handles money. Choose Bragging Rights when creating a pool and there's no money involved at all.
Is BracketGoals a gambling platform?
No. BracketGoals is a friendly prediction game for fun and competition. Any prize money is agreed and exchanged directly between friends — we're just the scoreboard.
Can I change my predictions?
Yes — until the match kicks off. Once a game starts, that prediction locks. All upcoming matches remain editable.
What happens if a knockout match goes to penalties?
You predict both the match score and the shootout score. Valid scores have a maximum gap of 3 in regular kicks (e.g. 5–2, 4–1, 3–0). If it goes to sudden death, scores must differ by exactly 1 (e.g. 6–5, 7–6). Equal scores and impossible scorelines are rejected.
What if I predict a draw in a knockout match but get the wrong score?
You still earn points based on how close you were. If you predicted 1–1 and the actual was 2–2, both are draws with a 0-goal difference — that's +5 for the right margin. If the margin was different (e.g. actual was 3–3), you'd get +3 for the correct result. Either way, if you also picked the right pen winner, you earn +2 on top.
Can I re-join my pool on a different device?
Yes. Tap "Already joined? Recover your spot" on the Join screen, enter your pool code and the name you signed up with, then verify with your PIN. Your predictions and points will be right where you left them. This works for both Captains and Players.
Can I play in more than one pool?
Yes — tap your name in the top right to switch between pools or create/join a new one.
Who handles the prize money?
BracketGoals never touches any money. If your pool has a buy-in, the Captain is responsible for collecting it from players and distributing the winnings at the end. The Prize Pot tab helps the Captain track who's paid — but all money moves directly between people, outside the app.
Why can only the Captain see the Prize Pot?
The Captain set up the pool and is responsible for managing payments. The Prize Pot tab gives them a private view to track who's paid — it's not visible to players to keep things clean and avoid disputes mid-tournament.
Can the prize split be changed after the tournament starts?
Yes — the Captain can update the split at any time. We'd recommend agreeing on it with your group before the tournament kicks off to avoid any awkwardness later.
Can the Captain remove a player?
Yes. In the Pool tab, the Captain can remove any player — this deletes their predictions permanently. The player can rejoin with a new name if needed. Removing a player requires the Captain PIN.