WORLD CUP SURVIVOR POOL
Pick one team per round. If they win, you survive. If they lose or draw, you're eliminated. Last one standing wins.
WHAT IS A SURVIVOR POOL?
A World Cup survivor pool (also called an elimination pool or knockout pool) is a prediction game where every round you pick one team you believe will win their match. If your team wins, you survive and advance to the next round. If your team loses or draws, you're immediately eliminated from the pool.
The twist: you can only use each team once during the entire tournament. With 48 teams and up to 8 rounds, strategy matters — do you use a strong team early for safety, or save them for the tougher knockout rounds?
Survivor pools are hugely popular in American football (NFL), but soccer survivor pools for the World Cup are extremely rare. Golazo is one of the only platforms offering this format for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
How It Works
Pick One Team
Each round, choose one team from the available matches that you think will WIN.
Your Team Wins → You Survive
If your selected team wins their match, you advance to the next round.
Your Team Loses or Draws → Eliminated
If your team loses or even draws (group stage), you're out of the pool immediately.
No Reusing Teams
Once you pick a team, you cannot use them again for the rest of the tournament.
Miss a Deadline → Eliminated
If you forget to submit your pick before the round's deadline, you're automatically eliminated.
Last One Standing Wins
The last player(s) still alive at the end of the tournament win the pool.
Round Structure
Group Stage — 3 Rounds
Draws count as a loss — your team must WIN outright.
Knockout Stage — 5 Rounds
In knockouts, your team must advance (penalty shootout wins count).
Strategy Tips
Don't waste powerhouses early
Teams like Brazil, France, or Argentina will likely have easy group stage matches, but you might need them more in the knockout rounds where the stakes are higher.
Look for favorable matchups
Study the group stage draw. A mid-tier team playing a weak opponent is a safer pick than a top team playing a rival — and you save the big team for later.
Plan ahead
With only 8 rounds and each team usable once, map out which teams you might use in which rounds. Don't paint yourself into a corner.
Watch the knockout bracket
In the knockout stage, consider which side of the bracket is tougher. Pick from the easier matchups to maximize your survival chances.
Why Golazo?
One of the Only Soccer Survivor Pools
Most survivor pools are for NFL football. Golazo brings this exciting format to the World Cup.
Play With Friends
Create a private pool and share the invite code. Perfect for friend groups, families, or office pools.
Free for Small Groups
Pools with up to 5 members are completely free. No credit card needed.
No Download Required
Golazo is a web app that works in any browser. Add it to your home screen for an app-like experience.
START YOUR SURVIVOR POOL
Create your free account and set up a World Cup 2026 Survivor Pool in under 2 minutes.