Beat your friends at our World Cup predictor game

In case you missed it, we released a fun World Cup predictions app last week. Why? I thought it would be fun? It made sense to me at the time?

The Variance Inc World Cup Game is your chance to show the world your match prediction expertise! Simply predict the correct scores for each of the World Cup 2026 matches as the tournament progresses.

You can log back in and make changes to your selections at any time - right up until kick-off. So, if Spain are resting players in their final group match, you can adjust your picks at the last minute. If Curaçao are struck down by a plate of dodgy lasagne, no problem! Just log back in and update your prediction.

Points are awarded as follows:

10 points for a correct result and scoreline.
5 points for a correct result.

Prizes will be awarded to the player with the highest points total at the conclusion of the tournament. In the event of a tie, the winner will be the player whose total tournament goal prediction is closest to the actual number of goals scored.

To make this more interesting, we are adding two features this week:

1) Mini-leagues where you can compete with your family, friends, and horrible co-workers for bragging rights, side bets, and embarrassment lowest finisher punishments.

2) A $500 Global highest score prize pool.

In a similar, but completely different vein, my World Cup betting analysis will start to drop tomorrow (Tuesday). We’ll look at over-and under-valued teams as well as highlight some of the peculiar oddities that are going to make this mostly-U.S.-based tournament far stranger than the average World Cup. Sign up to receive it all here.

And finally… the Monday Transfer Roundup.

• Look, I don’t WANT to start with the oddities that the Real Madrid presidential elections are kicking out, but we kind of have to? As Kim mentioned, Michael Olise was sort of floated by Florentino last week. As was apparently Kvara? And RM are rumoured to be in for Mateus Fernandes (his agent is doing a really good job making sure he’s linked to absolutely everyone). Jurgen Klopp was also floated by the non-Florentino candidate here, but Klopp was like “dude, I am old and tired and do not need that grind any more.” Respekt.

• Spurs are beavering away to get a deal done for Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke. I will admit, adding Senesi and Van Hecke would be a monster upgrade to their passing out of the back, and a better start to the window than expected given [everything else that has happened with them recently]. Van Hecke has one year left on his deal, so I guess cashing in kind of makes sense?🤔 

• Spurs are also still rumoured to be interested in Savinho, who I will admit I kind of forgot existed this season at Manchester City. But Spurs did not forget, and oh boy do they have needs, so this one comes down to whether Enzo Maresca wants to keep him around.

• After last summer’s failed move to London for Morgan Gibbs-White, there’s a specious rumour that he could be in line for a move to Arsenal or PSG. I want to poo poo this, but last summer taught me slightly odd, nonsensical deals happen more than I might expect them to, so we’ll keep an eye on it. Maybe Marinakis dragging MGW back to Forest last summer also involved a handshake deal that they would let him go this season.

• In a fun two-plus-two rumour, Liam Delap could end up at Fulham if Kieran McKenna takes over there. What we do know is that Delap is not good enough for Chelsea, but is there mistaken optimism he could be good enough for elsewhere in the Premier League? Is this a buy low situation?

• Russell Martin wants to return to management and may end up at recently relegated and financially-troubled Leicester City. Sure, why not?

If you enjoyed this newsletter, we’d appreciate it if you would forward it to a friend. If you’re that friend, welcome! You can subscribe to The Transfer Flow here. We also have a podcast where we go in depth on transfer news and rumours every week. We’re on YouTube here, and you can subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify by searching for “The Transfer Flow Podcast.” If you’re interested in football betting, check out this post on why we started Variance Betting.