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Joining a 2026 World Cup sweepstake—whether with family, friends, or colleagues—is one of the most enjoyable ways to make the tournament even more thrilling.
A sweepstake brings an added dimension of excitement to every match, giving participants a team to cheer for throughout the competition alongside their usual favorites, with a cash prize—and bragging rights—up for grabs.
With the 2026 World Cup just around the corner, here's a complete guide on how a sweepstake works, plus where to find the best printable kits and templates to get yours up and running before the tournament begins.
How to Run a 2026 World Cup Sweepstake
Organizing a World Cup sweepstake is quite simple and easy to arrange.
With 48 nations competing at the 2026 World Cup, your sweepstake can accommodate up to 48 participants. Before the tournament gets underway, each entrant pays an equal entry fee and is then randomly allocated a team—usually through a simple hat draw or by using an online random team generator to keep things fair.
Depending on how you set it up, participants may also be permitted to buy multiple entries, which boosts their chances of landing a stronger team and adds a more competitive edge.
Once the tournament concludes, the entrant assigned to the champion nation claims the main prize pot. Many sweepstakes also offer additional payouts for the runners-up or third-place finisher, helping keep more participants invested deep into the competition.
At the other end of the spectrum, some groups introduce "booby prizes" for the worst-performing team—typically awarded to the person who draws the side that finishes last or performs the least impressively in the tournament. It adds a comedic element and keeps interest alive at both ends of the table.
In essence, entrants are placing a fixed stake on a randomly assigned team—or teams—providing extra motivation to follow the tournament closely and, in many cases, support unlikely underdogs in the hope of turning a small entry fee into a worthwhile reward.
How to Run a World Cup Sweepstake: Step-by-Step Guide
1. Set entry fee and prize pot
Decide how much each person contributes and how the winnings will be distributed.
2. Gather participants
Ideally aim for one entrant per team (48 for the 2026 World Cup).
3. Assign teams randomly
Each person pays, then receives a team via draw or random generator.
4. Record assignments
Maintain a list or chart of who holds which team.
5. Follow the tournament
Monitor results using a printable or online chart.
6. Pay out winners
The person holding the winning team collects the prize, with optional additional prizes for runners-up or the worst-performing team.
2026 World Cup Sweepstake: Best Kits & Where to Print
You can effortlessly put together your own World Cup sweepstake kit at home with very little effort.
At its most basic, simply write each nation on a separate slip of paper and place them in a hat. Entrants—each paying a set fee (for example, $5)—then draw a team at random. From there, you can allocate prizes according to your own structure (for example, $200 for the winner, $30 for second place, and $10 for third with 48 entrants). Once the draw is done, just keep track of who holds which team and follow the tournament as it progresses.
If you prefer something a little more polished, however, there are plenty of places where you can download free printable sweepstake kits to give things a more professional and appealing look.
Sites such as Football Wallcharts, British Bookmakers, The Telegraph and The Sun all provide free World Cup sweepstake templates that you can download, print, and cut out for use.
Sites such as Lineup Builder and Sweepstake Generator also offer digital versions, which eliminate the need for printing, cutting out, or drawing names from a hat. While these online tools are more convenient and guarantee a quick, random team allocation, they arguably strip away some of the traditional charm and anticipation that comes with a physical draw.
READ THE LATEST WORLD CUP NEWS, PREVIEWS & ANALYSIS HERE
Barnaby Lane is a highly seasoned sports journalist who has contributed to The Times, FourFourTwo Magazine, TalkSPORT, and Business Insider. Throughout his career, he has had the privilege of sitting down with some of the most prominent figures in global sport, including Usain Bolt, Rafael Nadal, Christian Pulisic, and many more.