Guide
How to predict matches without knowing football
You don't need to watch football every weekend to compete on equal terms in your group. With a few simple rules of thumb you can get more right than you'd think. Here are the tricks.
Start with the favourite
The most useful rule for someone who doesn't follow football: most matches have a favourite. If one team is clearly stronger (better ranking, more stars, a winning history), it usually wins. Predicting the favourite to win narrowly (1–0 or 2–1) lands often.
Factor in home advantage
Playing at home is an edge: the team in its own country or city, with its crowd, tends to perform a bit better. At the 2026 World Cup, the hosts (United States, Mexico and Canada) get that boost. When torn between two even teams, lean toward the one playing at home.
Check the ranking and how they arrive
- FIFA ranking: a quick look tells you who's theoretically better.
- Form: were they winning or losing their last matches?
- Key absences: if a team is missing its star, its level drops.
Realistic scores win more
Football is low-scoring. Scores like 1–0, 2–1, 1–1 or 2–0 are the most common. Predicting blowouts (5–0) rarely lands. Keep it realistic and you'll score more often.
💡 You don't need the exact score to score points: if you just get the winner right (or the draw), you still earn points. So always commit to a result.
Trust your hunch now and then
Part of the fun is that football springs surprises: sometimes the favourite falls. If you have a hunch about a match, go for it. After all, the people who do watch football get it wrong too… and that's exactly what makes this so fun.