How to Run a World Cup Contest on Splash

Your friend group is about to care about soccer for the first time in four years. The 2026 World Cup runs June 11 through July 19, hosted across the US, Canada and Mexico.

Splash has three World Cup contest formats available for you to run. Two are brand new paid Survivor contests built specifically for this tournament. One is a challenge-based format that may look familiar if you’ve used RYP or OFP in the past. This guide covers what each one looks like for your group and how to choose.

World Cup Survivor: Group Stage + Knockout Stage

This is the headline format. It covers the full tournament from the opening match through the Final. It’s a six-week, two-phase contest designed to mimic the thrill of the World Cup.

Group Stage. Before the first match kicks off on June 11, each contestant picks 4 teams they believe will advance to the knockout round. All 4 must survive the group stage for the entry to live. One eliminated team out of those 4 picks and the entry is out. Contestants can pick from any of the 12 groups, with no more than 3 from the same group.

Knockout Stage. Starting with the Round of 32, contestants pick teams each round to win their match. This runs through the Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and the Final. The 3rd-place match is not included. Teams used in the group stages can not be reused in the Knockout stage. For example, a contestant who burns France in the group stage cannot pick France again in the semi-final.

This is the format for groups who want the full tournament experience. It’s also the most competitive option: losing one group stage pick eliminates the entry before the knockout rounds even begin.

Entry deadline: June 11, 2026 at the first match kickoff (3pm ET).

Commissioner settings you can adjust: double pick rounds for the knockout stage, team use limit (once / twice / unlimited), entry lives (1, 2 or 3) and more.

World Cup Survivor: Knockout Stage Only

The Knockout Stage Only template starts when the group stage ends, and the bracket is set. No Group Stage picks. Contestants enter before the Round of 32 and pick per round through the Final.

This format is the right choice for groups where not everyone wants to commit before the tournament begins, where you want to recruit latecomers after the group stage drama plays out. It’s a good fit for more casual soccer fans.

Entry deadlines are flexible: Commissioners can choose from six options between June 28 and July 3, giving you control over how late contestants can join before the Round of 32 locks.

Commissioner settings you can adjust: entry deadline, pick deadline (each game start or first game of round), team use limit, double pick rounds, entry lives, autopicks, buybacks through the Round of 16, and tiebreaker by cumulative goal margin.

World Cup Challenge

The World Cup Challenge is a points-based format. For the group stage, contestants predict the finishing position of all teams across the 12 groups and earn points for correct picks. For the knockout stage, contestants fill out their bracket after the group stage is complete. They are picking from the actual qualified teams, not their pre-tournament predictions, and earn points per round for correct match winners.

Point values are configurable by the commissioner. The contestant with the most points at the end of the tournament wins. This is the format for groups where elimination-based play feels too high-stakes, and everyone wants to stay engaged deep into the tournament regardless of early picks.

How to Set Up on Splash

All three formats are available in the create-a-contest flow. Open the Splash Sports app or go to SplashSports.com, navigate to the Commissioner tab or select "Create Contest" and choose your template.

One timing note: all settings for both Survivor templates can be changed up until 48 hours before the first game of the contest. After the contest begins, no settings can be changed.

What Your Contestants See

Once the contest is live and the link is shared, contestants enter through the app or on SplashSports.com. The prize pool for both Survivor formats is built entirely from contestant entry fees. Contestants can see the prize pool total and standings in real time.

For the Group Stage + KO template, the app shows each contestant their 4 group stage picks, their survival status, and their remaining usable teams for the knockout rounds. Eliminations process automatically as match results come in; you do not need to manage this manually.

Which Format Should You Run?

Run Group Stage + KO Survivor if your group wants a single contest that runs the full tournament, you're ready to set it up before June 11, and you want the thrill of the entire tournament.

Run Knockout Stage Only Survivor if you want more flexibility on timing, plan to recruit entrants closer to the knockout round, or want something more casual

Run World Cup Challenge if your group prefers a points-based game where everyone stays in through the whole tournament regardless of early mistakes, and you want to configure your own scoring.

You can also run one Survivor for your core group and a Bracket for the casual players.

Splash is available in 40+ states. Set up your World Cup contest through the iOS or Android app or at SplashSports.com. Please play responsibly.

Terms & conditions apply. To review QuickPicks House Rules, go to SplashSports.com. Must be 18+ to play, depending on jurisdiction. Please play responsibly. For help dial 1-800-MY-RESET.