bet365 WC26 Tournament Challenge 2026 - Win Up to £250,000!
With the 2026 World Cup now underway, bet365 has launched the WC26 Tournament Challenge, a free prediction game that gives eligible customers a shot at winning real cash prizes and Bet Credits without placing a single bet. In this review, we take a close look at how the game works, what the prize structure looks like across both the overall and Matchday leaderboards, and what the key terms mean in practice.
City PM’s journalism is supported by our readers. .
T&Cs: 18+. Only available to new and eligible customers. Free Bets paid as Bet Credits. T&Cs apply. Registration required. #ad
At its core, this is a points-based prediction game that runs across every stage of the 2026 World Cup. There is nothing to pay or stake. Eligible customers log in to their bet365 account, navigate to Football, then Free Games, and make their selections for each round of fixtures. Points are awarded for correct predictions, with the scoring system weighted to the in-game odds, meaning an upset called correctly is worth considerably more than a straightforward favourite win.
What we found particularly appealing about this offer is its dual leaderboard structure. Alongside the overall tournament table, which runs from the group stage to the final, individual Matchday leaderboards give players multiple opportunities to win. Even if you have a slow start, there are still rounds ahead where prizes are up for grabs.
Registering and entering takes a matter of minutes. Work through the steps below to get your entry in before the first fixtures of each round kick off.
Every player starts each fixture with 10 points to stake on their chosen outcome: a home win, a draw, or an away win. If the prediction is correct, points are returned at a rate linked to the in-game odds for that outcome. This means the scoring system genuinely rewards knowledge and judgement rather than simply encouraging everyone to back the same favourites. Correctly identifying a draw in a competitive group stage fixture, for instance, can move you significantly further up the leaderboard than calling a routine win for one of the tournament heavyweights.
For every Matchday or knockout round, players can select one fixture as their Daily Double. A correct prediction on that fixture earns double the points that would otherwise apply. The Daily Double does not carry over, so a fresh choice is required with each new round.
Introduced for the 2026 edition, Your Leagues is a social feature that sits alongside the main Tournament Challenge. Players can create a private league, share a code with whoever they want to invite, and then track their own group standings separately from the global leaderboard throughout the tournament.
The total prize pot reaches up to £250,000 across both the overall tournament leaderboard and the individual Matchday rounds. The top cash prize of £50,000 is available in both structures, which is actually very fair compared to many other free-to-play games of this type. Below is the full breakdown.
Gambling is intended to be enjoyable, and it is important to stay in control at all times. If you have concerns about your own gambling or that of someone you know, free support is available from the following organisations.
No. The Tournament Challenge is entirely free to enter. There is no qualifying deposit, no minimum stake and no promotional code needed. Eligible customers simply need an active bet365 account to get started.
Yes. The Tournament Challenge is available to both new and eligible existing bet365 customers.
Selections can be changed or reset at any point before a fixture kicks off. Once the match goes into play, those picks are locked and cannot be altered for that round.
By nominating a fixture as your Daily Double, any points earned from a correct prediction on that match are doubled. A new Daily Double selection is required for every round.
Where two or more players finish on the same total points in a prize position, the applicable prize money is divided equally between all tied entrants.
Bet Credits earned as prizes cannot be withdrawn directly. They must be used to place bets, and only the returns from those bets are added to your withdrawable balance.
City PM is committed to responsible gambling. Please gamble responsibly and only bet what you can afford. To gain help, support and advice for a person struggling with gambling, contact the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. If you are worried about your gambling or that of a friend visit gambleaware.org.