If World Cup Favorites Were NFL Teams: An American’s Cheat Sheet

The World Cup is here, and if you’re an American who knows more about fourth-and-one than a penalty kick, navigating the world’s biggest sporting event can feel overwhelming. Thirty-two countries, 64 games, and a whole lot of passion from fanbases you’ve never thought about before. But here’s the thing — you already understand this tournament better than you think. The drama, the dynasties, the heartbreak, the hype — it’s all there in a league you already love. So before you sit down to watch, let us translate the World Cup’s biggest contenders into teams you know by heart.

England = The Dallas Cowboys

England won the World Cup back in 1966, and they haven’t let anyone forget it since. The Cowboys won multiple Super Bowls in the 70s and 90s, and they haven’t let anyone forget that either. Both teams carry massive fanbases, massive expectations, and a trophy case that stopped updating a long time ago. Every year feels like this is the year — and every year, somehow, it isn’t.

Brazil = The Pittsburgh Steelers

Brazil has won the World Cup five times, more than any other country on the planet. The Steelers have six Super Bowl rings, the most in NFL history. Both are synonymous with their sport’s greatest dynasty, and both have passionate, loud fanbases that show up everywhere — not just at home. When either team is on, casual fans pay attention because history demands it.

Germany = The New England Patriots

Germany doesn’t beat you with flash — they beat you with discipline, structure, and a system that just works. Sound familiar? The Patriots under Bill Belichick were the same way: not always pretty, but almost always winning. Germany has four World Cup titles and a reputation for showing up when the pressure is highest. Like New England, you might not love watching them, but you have to respect what they’ve built.

Argentina = The Kansas City Chiefs

Argentina is the reigning World Cup champion, coming off their 2022 title in one of the greatest tournaments ever played. The Chiefs are the reigning kings of the NFL, with back-to-back-to-back Super Bowl appearances becoming their new normal. Both teams are built around one generational superstar — Lionel Messi for Argentina, Patrick Mahomes for the Chiefs — who makes everything around him better. When you watch either team, you’re really watching history happen in real time.

France = The Philadelphia Eagles

France has a roster loaded with elite, world-class talent that, on paper, should be unstoppable. The Eagles have been similarly stacked in recent years, with a roster that makes other fan bases genuinely nervous. Both teams can look like world-beaters one game and leave you scratching your head the next. The talent is never the question — it’s whether they can put it all together when it matters most.

Spain = The San Francisco 49ers

Spain dominated world soccer for over a decade, winning back-to-back European Championships and a World Cup between 2008 and 2012. The 49ers have one of the most celebrated dynasties in NFL history, with five Super Bowl titles and a system so respected that their coaches keep getting poached by other teams. Both organizations are known for a distinct, disciplined style of play that other teams actively try to copy. They may not always win the whole thing, but nobody wants to draw them in a bracket.

Netherlands = The Buffalo Bills

The Netherlands has reached the World Cup Final three times and never won — a brutal record for a team that talented. The Bills went to four straight Super Bowls in the early 90s and lost all four, which is somehow even more painful. Both fanbases have learned to love a team that gets so close and then breaks your heart every single time. Hope springs eternal, but so does the heartbreak.

Uruguay = The Green Bay Packers

Uruguay is a tiny country with a football history that punches way above its weight — two World Cup titles, both coming in the sport’s early era. The Packers are a small-market team from a small Wisconsin city that somehow became one of the most storied franchises in NFL history. Both are beloved underdogs with old-school credibility that newer, flashier teams just can’t buy. Their glory days may be vintage, but the pride is very much current.

Croatia = The Baltimore Ravens

Croatia is a small nation of just four million people that reached the World Cup Final in 2018 and keeps finding ways to compete with much bigger soccer countries. The Ravens are never the most glamorous team in the league, but they find ways to win games they have no business winning. Both teams are built on grit, tactics, and a refusal to be outworked — not overwhelming talent. You overlook either one at your own risk.

Mexico = The Miami Dolphins

Mexico has a passionate, enormous fanbase and routinely qualifies for the World Cup — but they haven’t made it past the Round of 16 in decades. The Dolphins have one of the most devoted fan bases in football and a proud history, but deep playoff runs have been rare for a long time. Both teams show up, make noise, and generate real excitement before the tournament or season starts. At some point, the fanbase deserves more than just showing up.

Portugal = The Cincinnati Bengals

Portugal’s entire identity for the last two decades has been built around one player: Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the greatest to ever play the game. The Bengals had a similar moment with Joe Burrow, a transcendent quarterback who made a franchise relevant almost overnight. Both teams are proof that one electric star can carry an entire country’s — or city’s — hopes on his back. The question was always the same: is there enough around him to actually win it all?