🔗 Share this article

The upcoming global tournament is at last beginning to seem tangible. While supporters can finally start planning their schedules, the recent draw in Washington DC was not short of significant headlines.

Well before the iconic group took to the stage with YMCA, observers were picking the bones out of a opening round featuring a showdown between football's top strikers and a knockout stage that could produce a highly anticipated encounter between two greats of the game.

The Draw That Seemed Like It May Never End

Numerous viewers logged on eager to find out their national side's group stage opponents. But, despite the fact supporters are accustomed to such ceremonies being lengthy, this was extraordinary.

After performances by Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger, speeches from dignitaries and Fifa officials, plus countless video packages and interviews, it eventually appeared to get going almost 60 minutes later. That was an illusion.

Cue more interviews and performances, before the actual draw finally commenced nearly an hour and a half after the star-studded show first kicked off. The selection then took 59 minutes to complete.

On to the Actual Football...

The upcoming World Cup will be the biggest in history, with a record 48 teams and a new round of 32. However, this expansion has maybe resulted in the initial phase being slightly diluted in overall strength.

There are hardly any matches between the major nations. England's match with Croatia is the biggest on paper. 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 official standings, while Die Mannschaft—drawn against Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao—have the weakest. Nevertheless, interesting matches remain.

Two Prolific Scorers Face Off

Phenomenal striker Erling Haaland will get a crack at his major international competition next summer. The Premier League forward scored 16 times in qualifying matches to single-handedly carry his nation to their first appearance since 1998.

Few have been able to come close to the youngster's incredible goalscoring feats—but someone who has is scheduled to come up against him in the final round of group games. Together with The Lions of Teranga, The Nordic side have been drawn against the French superstar's Les Bleus.

This means the top marksmen in the Premier League and La Liga will go head-to-head for the first time in on the global stage. Expect net-bulgers. Plenty of scoring.

We Meet Again

El Tri will face South Africa in the opening match—and not for the first time. The two teams also kicked off the tournament in South Africa. That game, ending 1-1, is most famous for a thunderous second-half strike.

Another notable group game will see the French once more face Senegal, who shocked the then-world champions back in 2002. On that opening night, a future Fulham midfielder upstaged France's galaxy of stars to score the decisive goal.

Dream Ties for the Debutants

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have benefited from the larger World Cup to reach the finals for the first occasion. However, awaiting them are past winners, European champions and South American champions.

In one group, the tiny Caribbean island, the least populous country to ever feature in a World Cup, will meet multiple winners Germany. Cape Verde, with a resident count of around half a million, will face Euro winners and former champions La Roja.

The Middle Eastern side, after decades of trying, will face defending champions Argentina and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be guided by a former champion against Cristiano Ronaldo's Selecao das Quinas.

And Then Comes the Knockout Stage?

If all the favorites progress from their groups, fans may not wait long for the heavyweights to collide. The last 16 is where things could get extremely interesting, most notably with a potential tie between past winners Germany and France.

On the opposite half of the bracket, eyes will be drawn to the quarter-final stage, where historic adversaries Messi and the Portuguese are lined up for a potential showdown. It would require both Argentina and Ronaldo's side winning their groups and squeezing through the early knockout rounds.

For England, a game against co-hosts Mexico seems the probable first knockout game. Should Scotland progress, Samurai Blue or the Dutch could be waiting in what would be their historic World Cup playoff match.