RULES:
It's a points-per-game system;
Participants must submit in a poivded Excel file their Picks for ALL 64 MATCHES (there are two tabs, one for the group stage, one for the knockout stage) and they will make points according to the following rules:
GROUP STAGE:
0 points if they do not get the result right (win, loss, draw)
2 points if they hit only the result (who wins or draws)
3 points if they get the result AND goal difference
4 points if they get the result AND the exact score
(In other words, a minimum of 0, a maximum of 4. If you pick a draw and you get it right, you are automatically getting the goal difference correct, so for draw picks you can get 0, 3, or 4)
* NOTE, Mexico matches will pay double points ONLY if you bet on Mexico. (Yes, sorry I’m Mexican and the love for shirt counts)
Best way to explain the above is with an example:
Let’s use USA vs Wales match: Let’s say Player1 picks USA 1-0, Player2 picks Wales 2-1, Player3 picks USA 3-1, and PLayer4 picks USA 2-0, and the final score is USA winning 2-0, then the point would be as follows:
Player1 0 points because he selected a Wales’ win
Player2 2 points because he got USA winning correct, but not with goal differences nor exact score
Player3 3 points because he got the USA win correct AND the 2-goal difference of two (3-1)
Player4 4 points because he got the USA win AND the exact score.
KNOCKOUT STAGE:
In your picks, the teams that made it over to the knockout stage are the resulting from your group stage obviously, however it may be that the real teams that make it thru are different. In this case do not panic, your picks remain but with the team that actually made it thru. Example: group C. if you select Argentina in first place and Mexico in second, your Picks for the qualifying rounds are actually “1st place of group F” and “2nd place of group F", so even if they are not your same team picks, you continue participating with your original pick but now the name of the team changed that’s all.
Once in the knockout phase the points are similar to the group phase but are divided into two parts:
One: what happens in the 90 (or 110) minutes. In other words, you can select a draw as a result when you believe that they will go to penalty shootouts. As I said, this part is the same as the group stage but in the round of 16 the matches are worth more: 3-4-5 (3 only result, 4 result and goal difference, 5 result and exact score) in the quarterfinals the same but 4-5-6, semis and 3rd place 5-6-7, final 6-7-8
The other part of these matches is the "who advances to the next stage". If you get it right you get another 2 points, if you get it wrong you get a -1, yes, on SUBSTRACTED point
So, for example, in the round of 16, the most that can be won is 5 + 2 = 7 points and the least is 0 - 1 = - 1 point.
An example: Mexico vs. France in the round of 16, you say that Mexico wins 2-1. If Mexico wins 2-1, they earn 5 points for hitting the game (90 or 120 minutes) and 2 for hitting who advances. Same pick but the result is that they go to penalty shootouts and Mexico wins on penalties. In this case they earn 0 points for the game and 2 points for hitting who advances. Same pick but in reality France wins, they earn 0 points for the 90-minute game and LOSE a point for not hitting who advances, that is - 1
EXTRA POINTS:
Very simple, if they hit the champion from their original picks, they earn extra points. The extra points depend on the Handicap of each team:
Brazil, France, Argentina and England give only 2 points
Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, and Portugal give 5 points.
Mexico gives 20 points!!!
The rest give 10 points
CHANGES:
After the group stage, changes will be allowed in their future Picks, which must be done before the next phase begins (for example, round of 16) and will be secret changes until the day the phase begins. EACH CHANGE FOR THE ROUND OF 16 FOR EXAMPLE WILL COST 200 PESOS (~10 USD) Anything they change from the game costs that amount. Either just change the score, or even change who wins or both. In other words, you can completely change your pick for 200 pesos per match. You cannot change the original champion pick for extra points.
Everything gathered from changes will be distributed in surprise prizes (usually given for consolation prizes)
Prices for changes in other phases will be announced later.