Your Complete Guide to the World Cup 2026 Simulator

Welcome to our World Cup 2026 simulator. Whether you are a first-time visitor or looking to master every feature, this guide will walk you through everything the tool offers.

By the end, you will know how to simulate the entire tournament, manually edit any score, tweak simulation settings, and share your bracket with friends.

Understanding the Three Tournament Phases

The simulator divides the World Cup into three main phases, each accessible via the navigation tabs at the top: Playoffs, Groups, and Knockout. These tabs follow the natural tournament flow.

Playoffs: Before the group stage begins, several nations compete in qualification playoffs to determine the final 48 teams. Simulate this phase first to see which teams earn their spots.

Groups: The 48 teams are divided into 12 groups of 4. Within the Groups view, you can switch between Tables (standings), Fixtures (individual matches), and 3rd Place Ranking to see which third-placed teams advance.

Knockout: Once groups are complete, 32 teams advance to the knockout rounds. This includes the Round of 32, Round of 16, Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, Third Place Match, and the Final.

Running Your First Simulation

The fastest way to see results is the sticky action bar at the bottom of the screen. This bar stays visible as you scroll and provides quick access to simulation controls.

To simulate the current phase, tap the green Simulate button. The button label changes based on which view you are in-Simulate Playoffs, Simulate Groups, or Simulate KO.

Want to simulate the entire tournament at once? Use the Auto Simulate button on the left side of the action bar. This runs through Playoffs, Groups, and Knockout phases automatically, with smooth scrolling so you can watch results appear.

After simulating, the button changes to Re-Simulate, letting you run fresh randomized results as many times as you like.

Editing Scores Manually

This is where the simulator becomes truly powerful. Every single score in the tournament is editable, letting you override random results with your own predictions.

To edit a score, simply tap on any match result. An input field appears where you can enter your desired scoreline. Hit the checkmark to save or the X to cancel.

In knockout matches that end in a draw, you can also set penalty shootout scores. The simulator validates your input-you cannot save a knockout draw without determining a penalty winner.

When you edit a group stage match, the standings recalculate instantly. Change a result in Group A and watch the table update in real time, potentially changing which teams qualify.

Edit a knockout match and the impact cascades through the bracket. Change the Round of 16 winner and their opponent in the Quarter-Finals updates. This continues all the way to the Final.

Navigating the Groups View

The Groups phase has three sub-views accessible via secondary tabs. Swipe horizontally or tap the tabs to switch between them.

Tables: Shows all 12 group standings. Each group displays teams ranked by points, goal difference, and goals scored. Tap any group to expand and see the fixtures within that group.

Fixtures: Lists all group stage matches organized chronologically. This view is useful when you want to edit specific match results by date or venue.

3rd Place Ranking: The 2026 format means 8 of 12 third-placed teams advance. This view shows how all third-placed teams rank against each other, so you can see who is on the bubble.

Customizing Simulation Settings

Tap the Sim Options button in the header to open the simulation configuration modal. Here you can toggle factors that influence match outcomes.

Rating System: Choose between ELO ratings or FIFA World Rankings. Each system produces different probabilities based on how it measures team strength.

Stadium Weather: Enable this to apply altitude effects at Mexican venues and heat penalties at outdoor stadiums in Florida and Texas. Teams from similar climates receive smaller penalties.

Crowd Influence: Accounts for diaspora populations and traveling support. Mexico gets a boost in US cities with large Mexican-American communities, while some teams receive bonuses for passionate traveling fans.

Each active option is counted in a badge next to the button, so you can see at a glance how many factors are influencing your simulation.

Showing Team Strength Ratings

Toggle the Strength button in the header (or find it in the mobile menu) to display team strength ratings throughout the simulator.

When enabled, you will see numerical ratings next to each team. These ratings determine match probabilities during simulation.

This is helpful for understanding why certain results occur more frequently and for identifying which matchups are genuinely competitive versus heavily favored.

Sharing Your Bracket

Once you have simulated or edited results, the Share button appears in the action bar. Tap it to open sharing options.

The simulator generates a professional-quality image of your bracket that you can share directly to social media, messaging apps, or save to your device.

You can choose which phases to include in your shared image. Share just the knockout bracket, just the group standings, or the complete tournament prediction.

Common Questions and Solutions

Why can I not simulate the knockout stage? The knockout bracket requires group stage results to determine which teams advance. Simulate the Groups phase first, then navigate to Knockout.

Why do my edits disappear? Your simulation state is saved automatically in your browser. If you clear browser data or use private/incognito mode, results will not persist. Use the Share feature to save your brackets.

How do I start fresh? Tap the Reset button in the header (or mobile menu). This clears all simulation results and returns every phase to its initial state.

Why does Auto Simulate show a confirmation? If you already have results, Auto Simulate warns you that running it will reset everything. Confirm to proceed or cancel to keep your current bracket.

Can I simulate just one group? Currently, simulation runs for all groups at once. However, you can manually edit individual match scores to override specific group results while keeping others unchanged.

Tips for the Best Experience

Start with Auto Simulate to get a complete tournament quickly, then refine specific matches you want to change manually.

Use the Tables view for an overview of group standings and the Fixtures view when you want to edit specific matches.

Enable Strength Ratings when learning how the simulator works. Disable them for a cleaner view once you are comfortable.

Run multiple simulations to understand the range of possible outcomes. The more you simulate, the better you will anticipate which teams consistently advance.

Share your bracket before the tournament starts and compare predictions with friends afterward. The simulator makes it easy to prove you called the upsets.