Prediction Modes

When you create a bracket pool, you choose how predictions lock. This decides when picks become final and whether players have time to react to results.

The Three Modes

Lock everything at the start

Everyone picks the entire bracket — group results, knockout, Golden Boot — before the tournament kicks off. One submission window. Once the first match starts, every pick is frozen. This is the classic office pool format.

Lock groups, then lock knockout

Two windows. Group predictions lock when group play begins. After all 12 groups finish, a second window opens for knockout picks — your bracket gets to fill out based on real qualifiers. The knockout window closes at the first Round of 32 kickoff.

Lock each round independently — default, recommended

Picks unlock and lock round by round. Each group round locks at its own first kickoff. Each knockout round (R32, R16, QF, SF, Bronze, Final) locks at its own first kickoff. You can edit picks within an open window — once it closes, those picks freeze and the next window opens.

Which Should You Choose?

If your group...	Pick
Wants the classic "fill out a bracket" feel	Lock everything at the start
Wants picks to reflect actual knockout teams	Lock groups, then lock knockout
Wants to follow round by round and stay in the game	Lock each round independently

Important Notes

Pool creators choose the mode at setup. It can't change once entries exist.
Side predictions (Golden Boot, group standings) always lock at the first group match, regardless of mode.
Group match scorelines (per-match score picks) follow the same window as the group itself.
The default is "lock each round independently" — it's the most engaging because new windows open as the tournament unfolds.

What "Editable Within a Window" Means

In the default mode, while a window is open, you can change your picks as many times as you want. The moment that window's first kickoff hits, every pick in that window freezes — even if you had the dialog open mid-edit.