Germany claimed the 2014 World Cup. The TAB is offering the chance to pick this year's matches. Photo / Getty Images
Germany claimed the 2014 World Cup. The TAB is offering the chance to pick this year's matches. Photo / Getty Images
It may help to be a football buff but lack of sporting knowledge is hardly a barrier to entry – the TAB is offering $5 million to anyone who can correctly pick the winner of all 64 matches in the Fifa World Cup.
The TAB's World Cup tipping competition is on again from today after a successful run in 2014, and follows the $1m prize on offer for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, which 50,000 people entered.
"You don't get many free tickets in a $5m raffle, last time I checked," the TAB's Mark Stafford said. "It's free, just have a crack."
In 2014, the Netherlands' early 5-1 demolition over Spain saw the majority of hopefuls fall out of the competition before the fourth game. No one lasted longer than a week.
However, the 2018 competition will be different in it will reward the top 500 tipsters with a $100 account top up.
"In the past it was deemed the best was whoever survived the longest, but you might get that person picked the first 12 but then the rest of the tournament they went really average. Now, we'll look at the whole thing and saw these 500 were the top 500 across the whole tourney."
Hopefuls don't need a TAB account to enter the competition, but will need to open one if they are among the top 500 to get their winnings.
As well as the added prizes, entrants will be able to create groups and track how their mates are going, as well as track their own progress on the overall leaderboard.
TAB bookmaker Mark Stafford with five million dollars that the TAB has offered as winnings if one punter can pick the outcome of all 64 matches at the Fifa World Cup. Photo / Greg Bowker
"It's quite a good banter creator," Stafford said.
In competitions such as this, it's natural for entrants to try to pick the upset. However, with three options in a football game – at least in the round robin stages – it can be a bit tougher. "If it's a draw, it gets rid of a few people. If the underdog wins, it gets rid of a lot."
"People try to pick the upset, but you don't have to think like that, because natural attrition will get rid of everyone anyway. So absolutely pick what you think will happen – not what might happen."
"I challenge anyone to go into this competition and watch the first game and not be energised by watching who you've picked."
The Fifa World Cup kicks off on June 14. The TAB's $5m competition is now open at https://freekick.co.nz.
Want help with your picks? The Herald's Cameron McMillan has a crack at the 64 results:
Group A Russia v Saudia Arabia - Russia win Egypt v Uruguay - Uruguay win Russia v Egypt - Draw Uruguay v Saudia Arabia - Uruguay win Uruguay v Russia - Uruguay win Egypt v Saudia Arabia - Draw
Group B Morocco v Iran - Draw Spain v Portugal - Draw Morocco v Portugal - Portugal win Iran v Spain - Spain win Spain v Morocco - Spain win Iran v Portugal - Portugal win
Group C France v Australia - France win Peru v Denmark - Draw Denmark v Australia - Denmark win France v Peru - France Australia v Peru - Peru win Denmark v France - Draw
Group D Argentina v Iceland - Argentina win Croatia v Nigeria - Croatia win Argentina v Croatia - Argentina win Iceland v Nigeria - Iceland win Nigeria v Argentina - Argentina win Iceland v Croatia - Draw
Group E Costa Rica v Serbia - Draw Brazil v Switzerland - Brazil win Brazil v Costa Rica - Brazil win Serbia v Switzerland - Serbia win Serbia v Brazil - Brazil win Switzerland v Costa Rica - Switzerland win
Group F Germany v Mexico - Germany win Sweden v Korea Republic - Draw Korea v Mexico - Draw Germany v Sweden - Germany win Korea Republic v Germany - Germany win Mexico v Sweden - Mexico win
Group G Belgium v Panama - Belgium win Tunisia v England - England win Belgium v Tunisia - Draw England v Panama - England win Panama v Tunisia - Panama win England v Belgium - Draw
Group H Colombia v Japan - Colombia win Poland v Senegal - Draw Japan v Senegal - Japan win Poland v Colombia - Poland win Poland v Japan - Draw Senegal v Colombia - Colombia win
Round of 16 Uruguay v Spain - Spain win Portugal v Russia - Portugal win France v Croatia - France win Argentina v Peru - Argentina win Brazil v Mexico - Brazil win Germany v Switzerland - Germany win England v Japan - Japan win Colombia v Belgium - Colombia win
Quarters Spain v France - Spain win Portugal v Argentina - Portugal win Brazil v Japan - Brazil win Germany v Colombia - Germany win
