🔗 Share this article

The upcoming World Cup is at last beginning to seem very real. Although fans can finally start marking their calendars, Friday's draw in the US capital was full of significant headlines.

Well before the iconic group performed with their classic hit, we were left picking the bones out of a group stage featuring a clash between two of the world's best strikers and a playoff bracket promising a highly anticipated encounter between two greats of the game.

The Draw That Seemed Like It May Never End

Many people logged on eager to find out their team's group stage opponents. However, even though fans are accustomed to such ceremonies taking some time, this was extraordinary.

Following acts by a pop star and Nicole Scherzinger, addresses from political leaders and football's governing body, plus numerous video packages and discussions, it finally seemed to get going almost 60 minutes later. Or so we thought.

This led to more interviews and entertainment, before the actual draw eventually began around 90 minutes after the star-studded show initially started. The draw itself then required almost an hour to complete.

Moving On to the Actual Football...

Next summer's tournament will be the biggest in the competition's history, with a unprecedented number of nations and a new round of 32. However, this increase in size has maybe resulted in the initial phase being slightly diluted in quality.

There are very few matches between the traditional powerhouses. The Three Lions' game against Croatia is the biggest theoretically. That is the only group fixture featuring two teams inside the world's elite.

The Selecao versus Morocco is the next best. The Netherlands have the toughest group by Fifa world rankings, while Die Mannschaft—grouped with less-fancied opponents—have the weakest. Nevertheless, compelling contests still await.

A Pair of Goal Machines Go Head-to-Head

Phenomenal striker Norway's star will make his debut in his first major tournament in the upcoming finals. The Manchester City striker scored 16 times in qualifying matches to drag his nation to their initial berth since 1998.

Hardly any have managed to rival the 25-year-old's incredible scoring records—except for one player is scheduled to face him in the last match of the group stage. Along with Senegal, Norway have been drawn against Kylian Mbappe's France.

This means the leading scorers in the English top flight and Spain's division will clash for the initial occasion in international football. Expect net-bulgers. Plenty of scoring.

A Familiar Foe

El Tri will face South Africa in the first game—and not for the first time. The two teams also opened the 2010 edition. That match, which finished 1-1, is most famous for a rasping goal.

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

Dream Ties for the First-Timers

Four new nations have taken advantage of the expanded World Cup to reach the tournament for the first time. However, standing in their way are past winners, European champions and Copa America winners.

In one group, the tiny Caribbean island, the smallest nation to ever feature in a World Cup, will meet multiple winners Die Mannschaft. Cape Verde, with a resident count of around half a million, will face European champions and 2010 World Cup winners La Roja.

Jordan, after 40 years of trying, will face title-holders La Albiceleste and Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be led by a former champion against the Portuguese icon's Portugal.

And Then Comes the Knockout Stage?

Assuming all the favorites make it safely through their groups, we shouldn't have to wait for the heavyweights to collide. The last 16 is where things could get extremely interesting, most notably with a possible matchup between former champions the Germans and France.

On the other side of the draw, eyes will be drawn to the last eight, where historic adversaries Messi and the Portuguese are set for a potential showdown. It would require both Messi's team and Portugal winning their groups and navigating the early knockout rounds.

For England, a game against tournament hosts seems the probable first knockout game. Should Scotland progress, Japan or the Netherlands could be waiting in what would be their first ever World Cup knockout fixture.