FanPick Blog
Latest news and insights
VAR Explained \u2014 How the Video Assistant Referee Works and Why It Matters in 2026
Since its 2018 World Cup debut, VAR has transformed football. Learn how the Video Assistant Referee works, semi-automated offside tech, and the new 2026 rules changing the game.
20 juin 2026
The Kelly Criterion for Football Predictions — Optimal Bet Sizing for Maximum Growth
Learn how the Kelly Criterion sizes football prediction bets for maximum bankroll growth. Formula, worked examples, fractional Kelly, and a practical workflow.
19 juin 2026
World Cup 2026 Group Stage Format Explained — How 48 Teams, 12 Groups, and the Round of 32 Work
How the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage works: 12 groups of 4, third-place qualification rules, tiebreakers, and the Round of 32 bracket explained.
19 juin 2026
World Cup 2026 Matchday 3 Scenarios — What Every Team Needs to Qualify
Matchday 3 starts June 24. 48 teams, 12 groups, 8 third-place spots. Every qualification scenario broken down group by group.
19 juin 2026
The 5 Greatest World Cup Matches Ever Played — Drama, Glory, and Heartbreak
From Maradona’s Hand of God to Messi’s Lusail masterpiece, relive the five World Cup matches that defined football history.
19 juin 2026
FanPick for Beginners — Make Your First World Cup 2026 Predictions in 2 Minutes
New to FanPick? Make your first World Cup 2026 prediction in 2 minutes. No sign-up, no app download. Covers confidence scoring, group challenges, and Matchday 2 picks.
18 juin 2026
The Evolution of the World Cup Format — From 13 Teams to 48
From 13 ships in Montevideo to 48 teams across three nations: the complete history of every World Cup format change, expansion controversy, and rule innovation since 1930.
18 juin 2026
Bayesian Methods for Football Predictions — How to Update Your Beliefs with Data
Learn how Bayesian inference transforms football predictions. From Bayes' theorem to MCMC sampling, build models that update beliefs with every match result.
18 juin 2026
World Cup 2026 Top Contenders After Matchday 1 — Who Can Win It All?
After 24 matches and 75 goals, the World Cup 2026 picture is clear. Germany, Argentina, and England look unstoppable. Spain, Portugal, and Brazil have work to do.
18 juin 2026
World Cup 2026 Qualification \u2014 How 48 Teams Earned Their Place
206 teams, 899 matches, 2,527 goals. The complete story of how 48 nations qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup \u2014 from first-timers like Cape Verde to Haaland\u2019s 16-goal campaign.
17 juin 2026
FanPick Scoring System Explained — How Points, Multipliers, and Tiebreakers Work
How does FanPick calculate your score? Every point, multiplier, and tiebreaker rule explained — plus how it compares to FIFA Predictor and SuperBru.
17 juin 2026
Ensemble Methods for Football Predictions — Combining Models for Better Accuracy
Learn how to combine Poisson, Elo, xG, and market odds into a single prediction ensemble. Practical framework with real accuracy data from football analytics research.
17 juin 2026