Will Antoine Griezmann make it to the 2026 World Cup with France? We analyze statistics, current events, and his role with Les Bleus on their way to the most important tournament on the planet.
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WILL THERE BE OFFICIAL PREDICTIONS FOR THE 2026 WORLD CUP?
The 2026 World Cup will not only be the biggest in history due to its 48-team format, but also because of how fans will participate from home. One of the most exciting traditions making a strong comeback is the football pools: those predictions where everyone—from grandparents to office colleagues—plays at being football experts. But will there be official pools organized by FIFA or sponsors? How will they work, and what prizes could you win? In this article, we'll tell you everything about the 2026 World Cup pools: formats, platforms, statistics, and why you could become a millionaire just by correctly predicting the winner of a match.
The Tradition of World Cup Pools
From Mexico '86 to Qatar 2022, pools have been an inseparable part of every World Cup. They are that collective ritual where friends, families, and offices compete to see who has the best eye for football. In many cases, without realizing it, they are the first contact many people have with sports statistics.
What is a pool?
A pool is a prediction of results, typically of individual matches or the entire tournament. It can include who wins, who advances to the next round, the exact score, or even who scores the first goal. Whoever gets the most predictions right wins. And yes, sometimes you also lose friendships (just kidding… almost!).
Backing data
According to Statista, more than 280 million people participated in informal or commercial betting pools during Qatar 2022. In Latin America, 47% of fans participated in at least one betting pool. In Mexico, it is estimated that 3 out of 5 workers participate in a football pool at their office. Football pools generate more interaction on social media than friendly matches. Apps like FIFA+, ESPN, and OneFootball included prediction modes in 2022. 70% of participants do it for fun, not for money. Women represent 36% of participants in digital football pools. There are entire football pool leagues with more than 100,000 active users. The truth is that, every four years, football becomes... The best excuse to bet a soda, a barbecue, or even a little money with friends.
Will there be official predictions for 2026?
The answer is: yes! FIFA has confirmed that the official digital predictions are returning, improved and more interactive than ever. The idea is to take advantage of the expanded tournament format to offer more phases, more combinations… and more prizes.
FIFA+ Predictor and other partner platforms
FIFA will relaunch its predictions platform called “FIFA+ Predictor”, where you can make your predictions for each match. It will have an individual version, a private group mode, and national tournaments. There will also be partner apps like Google, Coca-Cola, and Adidas offering branded betting pools and their own rewards. Prizes? Of course! There will be everything from exclusive merchandise to trips to games, tickets to the final, signed jerseys, NFTs, and even cash prizes. In 2022, FIFA awarded prizes to the top 1,000 prediction experts in the world.
FIFA+ Predictor will include a points system and global rankings
“Express predictions” will be enabled for key stages of the tournament
Partnerships with TikTok, Twitch, and YouTube for live predictions
Gamified gaming experience: achievements, rewards, and digital trophies
Anti-fraud system and control of multiple predictions per IP address
So if you thought predictions were a thing of the past, get ready: in By 2026 they'll be more alive than ever… and with more ways to win.
How to Make Your Football Pool Like an Expert
Making a football pool is no longer pure chance: now you have statistics, artificial intelligence, trends, and apps to help you. Here are some tips to make your pool not just for fun... but a winner.
Practical Tips for Each Phase
In the group stage, prioritize teams with experience and deep squads. In the knockout stage, consider physical and psychological performance. And never underestimate an African or Asian team… there are always surprises!
Tools for better predictions
There are apps and websites with match simulators, historical data analysis, goal statistics, weather, lineups, and injuries in real time. Platforms like SofaScore, FootyStats, or FIFA+ will be your best allies for making cool predictions.
Check the betting odds: they reveal real favorites
Review the head-to-head record
Avoid the "heart" pick: your team doesn't always win
Make at least two versions of your prediction: a safe one and a risky one
Join large groups: more fun and more competitive
Remember: it's not just about winning. It's about sharing, getting excited, shouting goals (whether they're missed or not), and experiencing the World Cup intensely. But if you win… even better.
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