League: NFL Sport: Football Country: United States Category: Match Previews

NFL predicts Super Bowl champion using World Cup format methodology

CBS Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 9, 2026, 12:40 PM

Last updated Jul 9, 2026

NFL predicts Super Bowl champion using World Cup format methodology

Summary

CBS Sports explores a hypothetical scenario where the NFL season mimics the World Cup tournament format to predict the Super Bowl champion for 2027. The exercise involves drawing 32 NFL teams into eight groups, based on rankings after the April draft, reflecting FIFA's structure. The groups have been formed, and initial match results from Group A indicate surprising outcomes, particularly with the Cardinals struggling, influenced by their automatic Pot 1 inclusion as a designated host. Key games are set to progress as teams vie for advancement in this imagined tournament.

Source Links

CBS Sports

Key Details

•32 NFL teams are divided into eight groups following World Cup format.
•Jaguars lead Group A after an initial win over the Cardinals.
•Cardinals, assigned to Pot 1, remain winless after the first week.
•The analysis incorporates player availability and rankings from April's NFL draft.
•Match outcomes will influence predictions for Super Bowl 2027.

Latest Updates

12:40 PMCBS Sports — NFL meets FIFA: Predicting the 2027 Super Bowl champion, World Cup-style

What they're saying

"
What if the NFL season played out like the World Cup? We drew groups, picked every matchup and followed the bracket all the way to the Super Bowl
— CBS Sportsby Carter Bahns

Related Teams & Leagues

NFL Football