Guide
Pool, sweepstake, quiniela, bolão: what they are and how they differ
Every country calls it something different, but the idea is the same: predict a tournament's results and compete with your friends to see who gets the most right. Here we clear up the names and how the modern version works.
They're all the same idea
A pool or sweepstake (US/UK), a quiniela (Mexico, Spain, Argentina), a prode (Argentina), a bolão (Brazil) or a porra (Spain) are, in essence, the same thing: a group of people who predict match scores and earn points based on how close they get to the real result.
Where the names come from
- Quiniela / Prode: from the old sports-pools coupons filled in by hand marking 1 (home), X (draw) or 2 (away).
- Pool / Sweepstake: the shared pot that the winner takes, a classic office tradition.
- Bolão: the Brazilian term for a collective bet among friends.
Real differences: they're not all scored the same
Even though the name changes by country, there are real differences in how they're scored, depending on each version's tradition:
- 1‑X‑2 format (classic quiniela and prode): you only score if you get the sign right —home (1), draw (X) or away (2)— regardless of the scoreline. Simple, but less precise.
- Exact score (modern pools and bolões): they reward getting the result spot on, and usually give partial points for just getting the winner right. It's the system we use at SportPredictions, because it rewards accuracy without over-punishing a near miss.
- With per-phase bonuses: the more complete versions award more points in the knockouts and add a champion prediction. That way, a good run at the end of the tournament can flip the whole leaderboard.
How the modern version works
It used to be tracked on paper or a spreadsheet: someone collected the predictions, compared them with the results and added them up by hand. Today, with SportPredictions, it's all automatic: everyone enters their scores, the platform compares them with the real result as soon as the match ends, and updates the leaderboard instantly.
💡 The key difference from a betting site: here no real money is wagered. It's a game of skill and fun among friends; what's at stake is pride (and, if you want, a symbolic prize you define yourselves).
Does it matter what you call it?
Exactly. Whether you call it a pool, sweepstake, quiniela or bolão, on SportPredictions you create your group, choose the tournament (like the 2026 World Cup) and invite your friends. The name changes by country; the fun is the same.