Everything you need to know about Football Pontoon.
The Basics
Football Pontoon is a game for enjoying alongside the 2026 men's football World Cup. Get as close to 21 as you can — like the card game, but with football goals.
How to Play
Pick exactly 4 teams before the deadline
Every goal your teams score counts toward your total
Get as close to 21 as possible without going over
What Counts
Goals in normal time (90 mins) — YES
Goals in extra time — YES
Penalty shootout goals — NO
Own goals count for the OPPOSING team
Winning & Losing
Winner: closest to 21 without going over
Bust: go over 21 and you're out
Stuck: all your teams eliminated
Tiebreaker: players level on goals are split by who reached that total first — the earlier your goals got you there, the higher you place
Wooden Spoon: there's always one: the most goals (the biggest bust) if anyone's gone over, otherwise the fewest goals. Shared only if the tied picks were identical
What a game looks like
Once the tournament kicks off, your game becomes a live table — closest to 21 on top, anyone who's gone bust at the bottom, updated as the goals go in. Here's a fictional one to show the idea.
Magic Number · 21
the Super Furry Pontoon
Standings · Matchday 2
1
Gruff
BRA · FRA · JPN · MEX
In Play
19
2
Eleri
ARG · GER · KOR · WAL
Stuck
18
3
Cian
ESP · NED · USA · GHA
In Play
17
4
Angharad
POR · CRO · SEN · CAN
In Play
16
5
Daf
ENG · BEL · MAR · CIV
In Play
14
6
Lowri
ITA · SUI · ECU · IRN
In Play
12
7
Guto
NED · POL · TUN · CRC
In Play
11
8
Steph
URU · SRB · CMR · KSA
In Play
9
9
Bunf 💀
BRA · ARG · ESP · ENG
Bust
24
An example, not a real game: Gruff leads on 19, three short of bust; Eleri's stuck on 18 with every team eliminated; Bunf sailed past 21 and went bust.