The World Cup is here – and now you can get closer to the action with our interactive prediction game for the chance to win a seven-night holiday for two to Spain with Jet2.
With Germany’s shock exit on penalties to Paraguay and Morocco’s stunning victory over the Netherlands, the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico has already been one of the most unpredictable World Cups in recent memory.
Think you can call it? Play The Independent‘s World Cup Bracket game and predict the outcome of every knockout match from the round of 16 through to the final. Every twist, every upset and every penalty shootout – it’s all in your hands.
Can defending champions Argentina go back-to-back? Will England finally end 60 years of hurt? Or could Paraguay seize the moment, upset France and write their own piece of history?
Once you’ve locked in your bracket, you’ll be able to track your progress on the live leaderboard as the tournament unfolds. The player with the highest score at the end of the competition will win a seven-night holiday for two at the Daia Slow Beach Hotel Conil in Spain thanks to Jet2, including return flights, airport transfers, 22kg baggage, 10kg hand luggage and half-board accommodation.
Make your picks, back your favourites and put your football instincts to the test as the road to the World Cup final unfolds.
How to play
For your chance to win a seven-night holiday for two with Jet2, simply predict the outcome of every knockout stage match, from the round of 16 through to the World Cup final.
You’ll earn points for every correct prediction, with the highest-scoring entrant topping the leaderboard and winning the prize.
Points system
- Correctly predicting a team to reach the quarter-finals – 8 points
- Correctly predicting a team to reach the semi-finals – 12 points
- Correctly predicting a team to reach the final – 18 points
- Correctly predicting the World Cup winner – 30 points
Live results
You can track your selections and position on the live leaderboard throughout the knockout stages, with results updating as each match concludes.
Competition window
The World Cup Bracket game is open for entries after the conclusion of the final round of 32 game between Colombia and Ghana on 4 July 2026. It will close at 6pm BST on 4 July 2026, when the first round of 16 game between Canada and Morocco kicks off.
Prize
The entrant who finishes top of the leaderboard will win:
- A seven-night stay for two in The One Junior Suite with Frontal Sea View at the Daia Slow Beach Hotel Conil on a half-board basis
- Return Jet2 flights from any eligible UK airport serving Jerez Airport
- Return airport transfers
- One 22kg checked bag per person, plus 10kg hand luggage
Travel must take place between 1 September – 22 October 2026
The holiday must be booked by 2 August 2026.
If two or more entrants finish level on points, the winner will be selected at random from those tied for first place.
No cash alternative.
Terms and conditions
By participating in The Independent World Cup Bracket game, entrants agree to the following terms and conditions:
- Entry is free and no purchase is necessary.
- The competition is open to residents of England and Wales aged 18 or over.
- Entries must be submitted via The Independent website before 6pm BST on 4 July 2026.
- Automated, robotic or bulk entries are not permitted and will be disqualified.
- The winner will be the entrant with the highest points total.
- If multiple entrants finish level on points, a winner will be selected at random from those tied for first place.
- The prize is a seven-night holiday for up to two people staying in The One Junior Suite with Frontal Sea View at the Daia Slow Beach Hotel Conil on a half-board basis.
- The prize includes return flights from any UK airport served by Jet2 to Jerez Airport (XRY), return airport transfers and one free 22kg checked bag per person.
- The prize must be booked by 2 August 2026 and travel must take place between 1 September and 22 October 2026.
- Optional extras, including insurance, upgrades, additional luggage, optional meals and any board, accommodation or transfer supplements, are not included and must be paid for by the winner at the time of booking.
- Travel insurance is not included, and winners are advised to arrange their own cover. The prize is non-transferable, cannot be exchanged for cash and cannot be altered once booked.
- Prize flights are limited on flights operated by Jet2 and may be unavailable even where there is general availability on a particular service.
- Flight schedules are subject to change and are not guaranteed.
- All flights must be taken by the winner and any travelling companion(s) at the same time and from the same UK departure airport.
- Jet2 reserves the right to amend, change, cancel or substitute the prize, or any element of it (including flights, accommodation, destinations or transfers), at any time for administrative or operational reasons, with an alternative of equal or greater value or, at its discretion, the cash value of the prize or relevant element.
- The prize is subject to the applicable Jet2.com and/or Jet2holidays terms and conditions.
- Where the prize includes accommodation or other holiday elements, it does not constitute a package for the purposes of the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018.
- In the event of any conflict or discrepancy between the Terms and Conditions and these prize draw terms and conditions, these prize draw terms and conditions shall take precedence.
- If the prize is not claimed by the booking deadline, it will be forfeited and may be awarded to another eligible entrant.
- The Independent will endeavour to contact the winner within one week of the competition closing. If the winner does not respond within one week, The Independent reserves the right to withdraw the prize and select another winner.
- The Independent accepts no responsibility for lost, delayed or incomplete entries caused by technical issues beyond its reasonable control.
- The Independent reserves the right to amend these terms or cancel the competition where necessary.
- If any provision of these terms and conditions is found to be invalid, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
- The Independent‘s decision is final in all matters relating to the competition.
- By entering the competition, entrants confirm they have read and agree to these terms and conditions.
Standard competitions and offers rules apply – see here.
