🔗 Share this article

Next summer's World Cup is finally beginning to seem very real. While supporters are now able to begin planning their schedules, Friday's draw in Washington DC was not short of major talking points.

Long before the Village People performed with their classic hit, we were left analyzing a opening round featuring a showdown between football's top strikers and a knockout stage that could produce a highly anticipated meeting between two greats of the sport.

The Draw That Seemed Like It May Never End

Many people logged on eager to find out their national side's initial opponents. But, despite the fact supporters are accustomed to such ceremonies taking some time, this was extraordinary.

Following acts by Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger, addresses from dignitaries and football's governing body, plus numerous video packages and discussions, it eventually appeared to begin almost 60 minutes later. Or so we thought.

This led to further commentary and entertainment, before the real selection process eventually began around 90 minutes after the star-studded show first kicked off. The selection then required almost an hour to complete.

Moving On to the Actual Football...

The upcoming World Cup will be the largest in history, with a record 48 teams and a new round of 32. However, this increase in size has perhaps led to the group stage being somewhat weakened in overall strength.

There are hardly any matches between the major nations. The Three Lions' match with Croatia is the biggest theoretically. That is the sole opening-round game with two teams ranked in the top 10.

The Selecao versus The Atlas Lions is the second most intriguing. The Dutch have the most difficult draw by official standings, while Germany—grouped with Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao—have the easiest on paper. Nevertheless, interesting matches remain.

Two Goal Machines Go Head-to-Head

Generational goalgetter Norway's star will get a crack at his first major tournament in the upcoming finals. The Manchester City striker scored 16 times in eight matches to drag his nation to their initial berth since 1998.

Hardly any have been able to come close to the youngster's incredible goalscoring feats—except for one player is set to face him in the last match of the group stage. Along with Senegal, The Nordic side have been drawn against Kylian Mbappe's Les Bleus.

This means the leading scorers in the Premier League and Spain's division will clash for the initial occasion in on the global stage. Expect goals. Plenty of scoring.

We Meet Again

Mexico will face South Africa in the opening match—repeating history. The two teams also kicked off the tournament in South Africa. That match, ending 1-1, is most famous for a thunderous second-half strike.

Another notable fixture will see France once more face the Senegalese, who shocked the reigning title-holders back in 2002. On that opening night, a then-unknown player outshone France's galaxy of stars to score the decisive goal.

Fantasy Fixtures for the First-Timers

Four new nations have benefited from the expanded World Cup to qualify for the finals for the first time. However, awaiting them are former world champions, European champions and Copa America winners.

In one group, Curacao, the least populous country to ever play at a World Cup, will take on multiple winners Germany. Cape Verde, with a resident count of around 600,000, will face European champions and former champions Spain.

The Middle Eastern side, after decades of trying, meets defending champions La Albiceleste and Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be led by a 2006 World Cup winner against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal.

What About the Playoff Rounds?

If all the top teams progress from their groups, fans may not wait long for the big hitters to collide. The last 16 is where things could get really tasty, most notably with a possible matchup between past winners Germany and France.

On the other side of the bracket, eyes will be drawn to the last eight, where historic adversaries the Argentine and Ronaldo are set for a potential clash. It would depend on both Messi's team and Ronaldo's side winning their groups and squeezing through the initial playoffs.

Regarding the Three Lions, a game against tournament hosts seems the most likely last-32 tie. And, if the Scots progress, Samurai Blue or the Dutch could be waiting in what would be their first ever World Cup knockout fixture.