🔗 Share this article

The upcoming global tournament is at last starting to feel tangible. Although supporters are now able to begin planning their schedules, the recent draw in the US capital was full of significant headlines.

Well before the Village People performed with their classic hit, we were left picking the bones out of a opening round featuring a clash between football's top strikers and a knockout stage promising a highly anticipated encounter between two greats of the sport.

The Ceremony That Felt Like It May Never End

Many people logged on eager to discover their team's initial fixtures. But, despite the fact supporters are used to such ceremonies being lengthy, this one set a new standard.

Following acts by a pop star and a former Pussycat Doll, addresses from dignitaries and football's governing body, plus countless video packages and discussions, it finally seemed to get going nearly an hour later. Or so we thought.

Cue more interviews and performances, before the real selection process finally commenced nearly an hour and a half after the star-studded show initially started. The selection then took 59 minutes to complete.

Moving On to the Football Itself...

The upcoming World Cup will be the largest in the competition's history, with a unprecedented number of nations and a new round of 32. Yet, this expansion has maybe resulted in the initial phase being slightly diluted in overall strength.

There are hardly any fixtures between the major nations. England's match with their 2018 semi-final opponents is the biggest theoretically. That is the only group fixture with two teams inside the world's elite.

The Selecao versus The Atlas Lions is the next best. The Netherlands have the most difficult draw by official standings, while Germany—grouped with less-fancied opponents—have the weakest. But, interesting matches remain.

A Pair of Prolific Scorers Go Head-to-Head

Phenomenal striker Erling Haaland will get a crack at his major international competition in the upcoming finals. The Premier League striker netted 16 goals in eight matches to single-handedly carry his country to their first appearance since 1998.

Hardly any have been able to rival the youngster's incredible scoring records—except for one player is set to come up against him in the final round of the group stage. Along with The Lions of Teranga, The Nordic side have been drawn against the French superstar's France.

This means the leading scorers in the Premier League and Spain's division will go head-to-head for the first time in on the global stage. Expect goals. Plenty of scoring.

A Familiar Foe

El Tri will face Bafana Bafana in the first game—repeating history. The sides also kicked off the 2010 edition. That game, which finished 1-1, is best remembered for a thunderous second-half strike.

Another notable fixture will see the French again come up against the Senegalese, who stunned the then-world champions back in 2002. On that opening night, a then-unknown player outshone France's cast of star names to score the decisive goal.

Dream Ties for the First-Timers

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have benefited from the larger World Cup to qualify for the tournament for the first occasion. But, 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 play at a World Cup, will meet four-time winners Die Mannschaft. The island nation, with a resident count of around 600,000, will face European champions and 2010 World Cup winners Spain.

Jordan, after 40 years of trying, will face defending champions Argentina and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be led by a former champion against the Portuguese icon's Selecao das Quinas.

What About the Playoff Rounds?

Assuming all the top teams make it safely through their groups, we shouldn't have to wait for the big hitters to collide. The round of 32 is where things could get really tasty, most notably with a possible matchup between past winners the Germans and the French.

On the opposite half of the draw, eyes will be fixed on the last eight, where historic adversaries Messi and the Portuguese are set for a potential clash. It would depend on both Messi's team and Portugal finishing top and squeezing through the early knockout rounds.

Regarding the Three Lions, a game against tournament hosts seems the probable last-32 tie. Should Scotland are able to get through, Samurai Blue or the Netherlands could await in what would be their historic World Cup playoff match.