🔗 Share this article

Next summer's World Cup is at last beginning to seem 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 took to the stage with YMCA, we were left picking the bones out of a opening round that includes a showdown between two of the world's best forwards and a knockout stage promising a highly anticipated encounter between legends of the sport.

The Draw That Felt Like It May Never End

Numerous viewers tuned in keen to find out their national side's initial fixtures. However, despite the fact fans are accustomed to such ceremonies being lengthy, this was extraordinary.

After acts by Robbie Williams and a former Pussycat Doll, addresses from political leaders and Fifa officials, plus countless montages and discussions, it eventually appeared to get going nearly an hour later. That was an illusion.

Cue further commentary and entertainment, before the real selection process eventually began nearly an hour and a half after the star-studded show initially started. The draw itself then required almost an hour to complete.

Moving On to the Football Itself...

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

There are very few fixtures between the traditional powerhouses. The Three Lions' match with Croatia is the most significant theoretically. That is the sole opening-round game with two teams ranked in the top 10.

Brazil versus The Atlas Lions is the next best. The Dutch have the toughest group by Fifa world rankings, while Die Mannschaft—drawn against less-fancied opponents—have the easiest on paper. Nevertheless, interesting matches remain.

Two Goal Machines Go Head-to-Head

Generational goalgetter Erling Haaland will get a crack at his first major tournament next summer. The Manchester City forward scored 16 times in qualifying matches to single-handedly carry his country to their initial berth since 1998.

Hardly any have managed to rival the 25-year-old's ridiculous goalscoring feats—but someone who has is scheduled to face him in the final round of group games. Together with The Lions of Teranga, Norway have been paired with Kylian Mbappe's France.

This means the top marksmen in the Premier League and La Liga will go head-to-head for the first time in international football. Anticipate goals. Plenty of scoring.

We Meet Again

El Tri will take on South Africa in the opening match—repeating history. The sides also opened the 2010 edition. That match, ending 1-1, is most famous for a rasping second-half strike.

Another eye-catching fixture will see the French once more face Senegal, who stunned the reigning title-holders back in the 2002 World Cup. On that first day, a future Fulham midfielder outshone France's cast of star names to score the winning goal.

Fantasy Fixtures for the First-Timers

Four new nations have benefited from the larger World Cup to qualify for the finals for the first time. However, standing in their way are former world champions, continental title-holders and South American champions.

In one group, Curacao, the least populous country to ever feature in a World Cup, will meet four-time winners Germany. The island nation, with a resident count of around 600,000, will face European champions and former champions La Roja.

The Middle Eastern side, after decades of trying, will face defending champions La Albiceleste and Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be led by a former champion against the Portuguese icon's Portugal.

What About the Playoff Rounds?

Assuming all the favorites progress from their groups, fans may not wait long for the heavyweights to collide. The round of 32 is where things could get really tasty, most notably with a potential tie between past winners Germany and France.

On the other side of the draw, eyes will be drawn to the quarter-final stage, where old rivals the Argentine and the Portuguese are lined up 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.

For England, a game against co-hosts Mexico seems the most likely first knockout game. Should Scotland are able to get through, Japan or the Netherlands could be waiting in what would be their first ever World Cup playoff match.