World Cup 2026 Office Pool Template — Google Sheet + Printable PDF Kit
### Set up your office World Cup pool in one afternoon — not one painful weekend of spreadsheet surgery. Every four years, the same thing happens. Someone volunteers to "run the World Cup pool." They open a blank spreadsheet full of confidence. Three hours later they're fixing a leaderboard that ranks the wrong person, arguing about who actually paid, and trying to work out why an unplayed match is being counted as a 0–0 draw. And that's *before* they realize 2026 is the new **48-team** format, with 12 groups and eight "best third-placed teams" to track. **This is the template that person actually needs.** It's a ready-to-copy Google Sheet that already handles the fiddly parts — the fair draw, the group tables, the best-thirds math, the knockout bracket, the tie-breakers, and the payouts. You add players and enter scores. The sheet does the rest. Built for the organizer, not for someone who wants to spend the evening rebuilding formulas. ### What you get **A copyable Google Sheet (the control room):** - **Start Here + Setup** — pool name, entry fee, currency, payout mode, tie-breaker. Set it once. - **Participants** — up to **100 players**, with paid/unpaid status, department, and notes. - **Team Draw** — assign all **48 nations** fairly and randomly (or by hand). - **Group Tables** — all **12 groups**, updated as you enter results. - **Best Thirds** — automatically ranks the **8 best third-placed teams** so you don't have to decode the new format. - **Match Center** — enter scores stage by stage; blank fixtures stay blank (no fake 0–0s). - **Bracket** — Round of 32 → Final, wired to your results. - **Leaderboard** — automatic ranking that handles ties correctly (no duplicate names, no wrong winner). - **Payouts** — prize pot + split calculator (winner-takes-all, top 3, or custom). - **Data Engine** — teams, groups, and stage labels behind the scenes. **A printable PDF kit:** - Office Pool Pack — team draw cards, an "office notice" to recruit players, and clear pool rules. - Quick-Start Guide — step-by-step setup in minutes. **Plus:** - A backup **.xlsx** file (works in Microsoft Excel too). - Instant access on Gumroad — buy once, keep it. ### How it works 1. Buy the template — instant download. 2. Open the Google Sheet copy link and save **your own** copy to Google Drive. 3. Add players, entry fee, and payment status. 4. Run the 48-team draw (or assign teams manually). 5. Enter results as the tournament unfolds. 6. Share the leaderboard link with your group. 7. Use the payout calculator when the pool ends. No app to install. No account to create. No Apps Script permission pop-ups — the sheet is **formula-based**, so there's nothing scary to approve. ### Why this beats a free printable or a DIY sheet - **A free printable** gives you draw cards — then leaves the leaderboard, payments, and payouts to you. - **A DIY spreadsheet** works if you enjoy building formulas and debugging them at 11pm before kickoff. - **This template** is the finished version: fair draw, correct standings, working payouts, and printable materials, ready today. It's specifically built around the mistakes organizers usually discover *after* everyone has already joined: - Blank fixtures counted as real 0–0 results ✅ fixed - Tied scores showing duplicate or wrong names ✅ fixed - Team assignments scattered across notes and chats ✅ one clean table - Unpaid players slipping through before payout ✅ visible paid status - Manual prize-pot math ✅ built-in calculator - The new 48-team / best-thirds format ✅ handled automatically --- ### Who it's for - Office and HR organizers running a workplace World Cup pool - Pubs and bars hosting a sweepstake or match-night pool - Remote teams sharing a Google Sheet in Slack, Teams, or WhatsApp - Classrooms, clubs, families, and friend groups ### Who it's NOT for - Anyone who wants software that collects money or places bets. This is a **template only** — it organizes your pool; it doesn't handle payments or run a betting service. ### Price **$7.99, one-time.** Less than a round of coffees for the office — and a lot less painful than rebuilding a broken leaderboard after 24 people have already joined. **Get instant access — $7.99 →** --- ### Guarantee If the template doesn't help you run your pool, email me within **7 days** of purchase and I'll help make it right. --- ### FAQ **Is this a spreadsheet or a PDF?** Both. The core product is a Google Sheet (with an Excel backup). The printable PDF kit adds draw cards, an office notice, and rules. **Does it need Apps Script or special permissions?** No. It's formula-based — no permission pop-ups. **How many players does it support?** Up to 100. **Does it handle the new 48-team format?** Yes — 12 group tables, the 8 best third-placed teams, and a Round of 32 bracket are all built in. **Can I use it for a pub, classroom, or friend group?** Yes. It works anywhere a group wants to follow the tournament together. **Is running a pool legal?** This is only a template. It doesn't handle money or run a betting service. Rules vary by workplace and location, so keep your pool social and low-stakes and check local requirements before collecting any entry fee. --- *This product is a template only. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by FIFA, and it is not a gambling product.* **PS.** Kickoff won't wait for your spreadsheet. Set the pool up now, while it's calm — add players today, and let the sheet handle draw day, results, and payouts for you.
Get it → andyswift223.gumroad.com