ESPN senior NFL writer Bill Barnwell has taken inspiration from the World Cup to create a unique regional competition for American football. Using high school football origins as the determining factor, Barnwell split the country into eight teams, with California, Florida and Texas each earning their own exclusive squads due to their exceptional player production. The remaining five teams cover regional areas across the Northeast, South Atlantic, Southeast, Southwest and Midwest.

Each roster consists of 30 players under specific constraints: two quarterbacks, one running back, three wide receivers, one tight end, six offensive linemen, plus defensive players and special teams. The lineup rules mirror international competition constraints, where teams cannot trade to address positional weaknesses. Barnwell built these rosters for a hypothetical September 2026 tournament, accounting for injuries from the previous season.

Some regions boast incredible depth at certain positions while lacking at others, creating fascinating roster imbalances. Players like Patrick Mahomes, George Kittle and Micah Parsons would be questionable for the tournament due to injury recovery timelines, while retired players are excluded. The exercise reveals which American regions produce the most NFL-ready talent across all positions.

This regional breakdown offers fresh perspective on football geography, showing how local high school programs and college influences shape NFL player development across different areas of the country.