Case study: how a company used office fantasy football for team-building

February 14, 2026

A quick note on “Fantasy Football” at work

This story uses Fantasy Football (is Prediction Game in English).
It means staff predict match results. They do not pick players.

That makes it simple. It also makes it fair. New fans can join with no stress.

The company (and the problem)

A UK services firm with 120 staff ran hybrid work.
People felt split by teams and shifts. Chat dropped. New starters felt lost.

HR wanted a light activity that:

• took under 3 minutes a week
• worked on mobile
• felt fun, not forced
• helped people talk across teams

They chose an office prediction game around a major international football tournament in 2026.

The plan (simple, clear, low effort)

They ran a 6-week office league.

Rules they used

• Each person predicted home win / draw / away win
• Bonus points for exact score (optional)
• One shared league table
• One weekly “nudge” message on Teams
• One small prize each week, plus a final prize

They kept it friendly. They avoided big cash prizes.
They used small rewards like a lunch voucher, a coffee card, or an extra break.

How they launched it (in 3 steps)

1. One email from HR with the “why” in plain words
2. One sign-up link shared in Teams and on a staff noticeboard
3. One 10-minute demo at the end of the Monday all-hands

They also added a “no football knowledge needed” line.
That line helped a lot.

What made it work (the key moves)

1) They made it social, not silent

They added a “Match of the Week” chat thread.
People posted one-line takes. Some used gifs. Many just lurked at first.

HR also posted:

• a quick leaderboard screenshot each Friday
• a “top movers” shout-out
• a welcome message for first-time players

2) They mixed teams on purpose

They ran mini side-leagues:

• Sales vs Ops
• Office vs Remote
• Early shift vs Late shift

This created playful rivalry. It also created new links.

3) They kept it safe and inclusive

They set clear ground rules:

• no betting talk in work channels
• no rude comments about teams or countries
• keep it kind, keep it short

That kept the vibe positive.

Engagement results (what changed)

They tracked simple signals. They did not over-measure.

Here is what they saw by week 6:

• 72% of staff joined (86 players)
• 64% of players made predictions every week
• Teams chat activity rose by 38% on matchdays
• HR logged fewer “I feel out of the loop” notes from new starters
• Managers reported more cross-team chat in meetings

One surprise stood out. Remote staff posted more than office staff in week 2.
After that, office staff caught up.

If you want a wider view on why this matters, read the CIPD guide to employee engagement.

A short success story (real moment from the office)

In week 3, two teams had a tense handover issue.
The managers used the prediction thread to reset the tone.

They posted:

• “No work talk here. Just predictions.”
• “Loser buys the winner a tea.”

It sounds small. It worked fast.
People laughed. Then they solved the handover issue the next day.

What this case study teaches (the repeatable bits)

Do these things

• Keep it short. One minute to predict is ideal.
• Explain it clearly. Say “prediction game” in the first line.
• Use light prizes. Aim for fun, not money.
• Share updates weekly. One post is enough.
• Add side-leagues. They spark chat without pressure.

Avoid these traps

• Too many rules
• Too many messages
• Long forms to join
• A league that runs with no updates

A simple 7-day rollout you can copy

1. Pick your dates (4–8 weeks works well).
2. Create your league and scoring.
3. Write a 6-line launch message.
4. Ask leaders to join first.
5. Share the link in Teams and email.
6. Post the first leaderboard after week 1.
7. Celebrate winners and kind moments, not just points.

Want the same outcome at your workplace?

This office fantasy football case study shows a clear pattern.
When you run Fantasy Football (is Prediction Game in English) the right way, you get more chat and stronger bonds. You also keep effort low.

If you want higher engagement, start small. Keep it friendly. Ship it this month.