Groups and knockout: the World Cup format for your own tournament

Group stage

Participants are split into groups — four per group by default. Each group has its own cross table with scores, points and places. You can adjust groups by dragging, including moving a participant to another group at a specific position.

If three matches per participant in a group of four are not enough, set multiple legs — up to five. The cross table shows one leg, and below the groups a “Group stage totals” table sums points across all legs.

Who advances

In the settings you choose how many advance from each group: only winners, the top two, the top three — or several separate knockout brackets, for example for 1st and for 5th place. The bracket is crossed: the winner of group A meets the runner-up of group B, so group rivals do not meet again before the final.

Double elimination option

To give a second chance after the groups, pick “Groups + double elimination”. The group stage is the same, and qualifiers play a bracket until two losses — with winners and losers brackets and a grand final.

How to start

1. Create a tournament and choose “Groups + knockout”.
2. Add participants and set the group size and number of qualifiers.
3. Assign participants to groups by hand or press “Shuffle”.
4. Play the groups — the knockout bracket builds itself.