Chiefs, Cowboys get World Cup twins in CBS Sports NFL mashup
CBS Sports paired eight NFL teams with World Cup sides, matching the Chiefs with Argentina and the Cowboys with the USMNT.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
The Kansas City Chiefs are Argentina, the Dallas Cowboys are the United States men’s national team and the Seattle Seahawks are Spain, according to a new CBS Sports comparison tying NFL teams to World Cup sides.
CBS Sports writer Carter Bahns laid out eight pairings after a World Cup staged in the United States, where matches were played at 11 NFL stadiums. Bahns argued the overlap went beyond venue sharing, pointing to history, stars, tactics and familiar fan frustrations.
The piece noted a few easy links between the sports: both are called football in different parts of the world, both put 11 players on the field and, before the World Cup’s expansion, both had 32 teams. The 2026 tournament’s 48-team format meant there was no one-for-one match for every NFL club, but CBS Sports said several comparisons stood out.
Chiefs get the Messi treatment
Kansas City’s match was Argentina, with CBS Sports putting Patrick Mahomes in the Lionel Messi slot. Bahns wrote that both stars have built all-time cases while collecting championships, elite skill and piles of wins.
The comparison also leaned on recent big-stage consistency. CBS Sports noted Argentina reached a third World Cup final in four tournaments after several rallies, while the Chiefs have appeared in three of the last four Super Bowls.
Dallas landed the USMNT comparison, and the logic was less flattering. CBS Sports pointed to the Cowboys’ long-running cycle of national expectation and postseason disappointment, noting Dallas has not advanced beyond the divisional round since 1995.
Bahns compared that to the United States men, who have not returned to the World Cup semifinals since finishing third in the first tournament in 1930. CBS Sports said even the 2026 roster, described as highly talented, left a large fanbase wanting more.
Champions, contenders and droughts
The Seahawks were matched with Spain because, according to CBS Sports, both won their latest titles through defense and young attacking stars. The report said Mike Macdonald’s Seattle defense allowed an NFL-low 292 regular-season points, while Spain recorded seven clean sheets in eight World Cup matches and goalkeeper Unai Simón conceded once all tournament.
CBS Sports paired the Los Angeles Rams with France, citing championship-level rosters packed with attacking talent. The piece compared Matthew Stafford to Kylian Mbappé and Puka Nacua to Ousmane Dembélé, while noting France finished fourth at the World Cup.
Buffalo was matched with England for repeated contention without the final prize. CBS Sports said the Bills have made the playoffs in each of the last seven years without reaching the Super Bowl, while England qualified for eight straight World Cups without making the final. The piece also noted Buffalo’s last championship came in 1965, one year before England’s 1966 World Cup win.
Aging icons and leaky defenses
The Pittsburgh Steelers were compared to Portugal because both are dealing with famous older stars. CBS Sports noted Aaron Rodgers has said this will be the final season of his Hall of Fame career, while many argued Cristiano Ronaldo should have had a limited role for Portugal at the World Cup.
New England drew Brazil, with CBS Sports citing the Patriots’ six Super Bowl wins this century and Brazil’s five World Cup titles. Bahns framed both as dynasties trying to shift from one era to the next, from Tom Brady to Drake Maye in New England and from Neymar to Vinícius Júnior for Brazil.
The final pairing was the Cincinnati Bengals and Norway. CBS Sports said both have elite offensive firepower but not enough defensive support, noting Norway ranked sixth in World Cup goals scored while allowing the fourth-most goals, and comparing Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase’s burden to Erling Haaland’s role for Norway.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS Sports.