Know The Rules

General Contest Rules

Match picks can be made and changed up until the start of the first match in each round. For bracket contest purposes, the start of the first match is the “match time” listed on the bracket page and is not the actual time of “kickoff.” (Note: all times listed are Eastern Time.)
Once a round begins, you cannot make or change any of your picks for that particular round.
Make a pick for each match in this year’s World Cup Tournament — there is a total of 16 matches in 4 rounds.
You cannot view other bracketeer’s picks until a round starts and all picks are locked.

Points Assessment – Awards & Penalties

Points are awarded for each match in 4 ways — by picking the winning team, picking the losing team, picking the goal differential in the match, and picking how the match is decided for any 1-goal differential games.
Picking the Winning Team: you earn +1 point for correctly picking the team that wins the match.
Picking the Losing Team: you are penalized -1 point for picking the team that loses the match.
Match Bonus Points: for each match in which you correctly pick the winning team, you earn bonus points as follows:

+2 bonus points for accurately picking the exact goal differential in the match, and
+2 bonus points for accurately predicting a 1-goal differential in the match and predicting that the match ends in Full-time, in Extra-time, or on Penalty Kicks.
No bonus points are awarded if you do not pick the exact goal differential for the match, and
no additional bonus points are awarded if you incorrectly predict the way a 1-goal differential game ends.

Examples & Scenarios

Example #1 – ALGERIA defeats URUGUAY by a score of 5-1 and you picked ALGERIA by a +3 Goal Differential. (How did I do?)

You earn +1 point for correctly picking ALGERIA to win the match, but
you do not earn any additional Match Bonus Points because the game was decided by 4 goals and you predicted a 3-goal differential.
In this example, you earn +1 point for this particular match.

Example #2 – ALGERIA defeats URUGUAY by a score of 2-Nil and you picked ALGERIA by a +2 Goal Differential. (How did I do?)

You earn +1 point for correctly picking ALGERIA to win the match, and
you earn +2 Match Bonus Points for accurately picking a 2-goal differential.
In this example, you earn +3 points for this particular match.

Example #3 – ALGERIA defeats URUGUAY by a score of 3-2 on Penalties and you picked ALGERIA by a +1 Goal Differential in Full-time. (How did I do?)

You earn +1 point for correctly picking ALGERIA to win the match, and
you earn +2 Match Bonus Points for accurately picking a 1-goal differential, but
you do not earn the additional +2 Match Bonus Points because the game was decided on penalty kicks and you predicted it would end in regulation time.
In this example, you earn +3 points for this particular match.

Example #4 – ALGERIA defeats URUGUAY by a score of 4-3 in Extra-time and you picked ALGERIA by a +1 Goal Differential in Extra-time. (How did I do?)

You earn +1 point for correctly picking ALGERIA to win the match, and
you earn +2 Match Bonus Points for accurately picking a 1-goal differential, and
you earn an additional +2 Match Bonus Points for correctly predicting the match would be decided at the end of Extra-time.
In this example, you earn +5 points for this particular match.

Example #5 – URUGUAY defeats ALGERIA by a score of 2-1 and you picked ALGERIA by a +2 Goal Differential. (How did I do?)

You are penalized -1 point for incorrectly picking ALGERIA to win the match.
There are no Match Bonus Points awarded when you pick the losing team – sorry Charlie!
In this example, -1 point is deducted from your overall accumulated point total.

World Cup Fútbol Definitions & Terminologies

These fútbol terms apply to this bracket contest:

"Full-time": any match that is decided at the end of 90' minutes of play, plus any referee added injury-time, is deemed to have ended in full-time.
"Extra-time": any match that is decided at the end of 120' minutes of play, plus any referee added injury-time, is deemed to have ended in extra-time. Note: for World Cup Bracket contests, the team that wins the match as a result of "extra-time" gets awarded 1 additional goal only even if the 2 teams score multiple goals in extra-time. In other words, matches that result in "extra-time" constitute finishing by a 1-goal differential for bracket scoring purposes.
"Penalties": any match that is decided by means of a penalty kick shootout situation is deemed to have ended on penalties. Note: for World Cup Bracket contests, the team that wins the match as a result of penalty kicks gets awarded 1 additional goal only even if the 2 teams score multiple penalty kick goals. In other words, matches that result in "penalties" constitute finishing by a 1-goal differential for bracket scoring purposes.

Bracket Forecast Bonus Points

General Bracket Forecast Rules:

You will make 3 separate bracket forecasts; during Round #1 - "Round of 16" picks, Round #2 - "Quarter-finals" picks, and Round #3 - "Semi-finals" picks.
No points are deducted from your overall accumulated point total for an incorrect or no forecast in any of the 3 forecast rounds.
You can change your bracket forecast as often as you like until the first match in the round begins.
Once the first match in the round begins, your bracket forecast is locked and cannot be changed.
Important Note: any time you change one or more of your picks in the "My Picks" section of the contest, regardless of the change, your bracket forecast is erased and must be re-done for that round.
In order to preserve competition, the Bracket Community cannot view the bracket forecast of their rivals until the picks are closed for the Final round.

"Quarter-final" Round Projections: bracket forecast points available in the first round are:

+1 bonus point each for accurately forecasting the (4) winners of the Quarter-final Round in both brackets, and
+2 bonus points each for accurately forecasting the (2) winners of the Semi-final Round,
+3 bonus points for accurately forecasting the 3rd Place finisher, and
+3 bonus points for accurately forecasting the World Cup Champion.

"Semi-final" Round Projections: bracket forecast points available in the second round are:

+1 bonus point each for accurately forecasting the (2) winners of the Semi-final Round, and
+2 bonus points for accurately forecasting the 3rd Place finisher, and
+2 bonus points for accurately forecasting the World Cup Champion.

"Final" Round Projections: bracket forecast points available in the third and final round are:

+1 bonus point for accurately forecasting the 3rd Place finisher, and
+1 bonus point for accurately forecasting the World Cup Champion.

Point Summaries

Point maximums and minimums — each round:

The most you can earn in the "Round of 16" is 40 points (5 points times 8 matches)
The most you can be penalized in the "Round of 16" is -8 points (-1 point times 8 matches)
The most you can earn in the "Quarter-finals" round is 20 points (5 points times 4 matches)
The most you can be penalized in the "Quarter-finals" round is -4 points (-1 point times 4 matches)
The most you can earn in the "Semi-finals" round is 10 points (5 points times 2 matches)
The most you can be penalized in the "Semi-finals" round is -2 points (-1 point times 2 matches)
The most you can earn in the "Playoff for 3rd Place" is 5 points (5 points times 1 match)
The most you can be penalized in the "Playoff for 3rd Place" is -1 point (-1 point times 1 match)
The most you can earn in the "Final" round is 5 points (5 points times 1 match)
The most you can be penalized in the "Final" round is -1 point (-1 point times 1 match)
The most you can earn for your Quarter-finals Bracket Forecast is 14 points
The most you can earn for your Semi-finals Bracket Forecast is 6 points
The most you can earn for your Finals Bracket Forecast is 2 points
The total points you can earn for the FIFA World Cup Brazil Bracket is 102 Points
The total points you can lose for the FIFA World Cup Brazil Bracket is -16 Points

Final Contest Rules

Even if you miss Round 1 picks, there are lots of Bonus Points on the table in each round so “it ain’t over ’til it’s over”.
It’s free so anyone can join…tell your friends to sign up.
Good luck…you’re gonna need it!