Mbappe vs Haaland, Dream Match-ups and The Village People: The Highlights from the FIFA Draw Ceremony
The upcoming World Cup is finally beginning to seem tangible. Although supporters are now able to begin marking their calendars, Friday's ceremony in the US capital was full of significant headlines.
Long before the Village People performed with their classic hit, we were left analyzing a opening round featuring a showdown between football's top forwards and a knockout stage promising a highly anticipated encounter between legends of the game.
The Draw That Seemed Like It May Never End
Many people logged on keen to find out their team's initial opponents. However, even though supporters are used to such ceremonies being lengthy, this one set a new standard.
After performances by Robbie Williams and a former Pussycat Doll, speeches from political leaders and football's governing body, plus countless montages and discussions, it eventually appeared to get going nearly an hour later. Or so we thought.
Cue more interviews and entertainment, before the actual draw finally commenced around 90 minutes after the star-studded show first kicked off. The selection then required almost an hour to finish.
On to the Actual Football...
The upcoming tournament will be the biggest in the competition's history, with a unprecedented number of nations and a first-ever additional knockout round. Yet, this expansion has maybe resulted in the group stage being slightly diluted in quality.
There are very few fixtures between the major nations. The Three Lions' game against their 2018 semi-final opponents is the biggest on paper. That is the only group fixture with two teams inside the world's elite.
The Selecao versus The Atlas Lions is the second most intriguing. The Netherlands have the most difficult draw by Fifa world rankings, while Die Mannschaft—grouped with less-fancied opponents—have the weakest. Nevertheless, interesting matches still await.
Two Goal Machines Face Off
Phenomenal striker Erling Haaland will get a crack at his first major tournament next summer. The Manchester City forward netted 16 goals in qualifying matches to single-handedly carry his nation to their first appearance since 1998.
Hardly any have managed to rival the 25-year-old's ridiculous goalscoring feats—except for one player is set to face him in the last match of the group stage. Together with Senegal, The Nordic side have been paired with the French superstar's France.
This means the top marksmen in the English top flight and Spain's division will go head-to-head for the initial occasion in international football. Anticipate net-bulgers. Lots of goals.
A Familiar Foe
Mexico will take on South Africa in the opening match—and not for the first time. The two teams also opened the 2010 edition. That match, ending 1-1, is best remembered for a thunderous second-half strike.
Another eye-catching group game will see the French again come up against the Senegalese, who shocked the then-world champions back in 2002. On that first day, 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 reach the finals for the first time. However, standing in their way are former world champions, European champions and Copa America winners.
In one group, the tiny Caribbean island, the smallest nation to ever play at a World Cup, will take on four-time winners Die Mannschaft. Cape Verde, with a resident count of around 600,000, will face European champions and former champions La Roja.
Jordan, after 40 years of trying, will face title-holders La Albiceleste and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be led by a 2006 World Cup winner against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal.
And Then Comes the Playoff Rounds?
If all the favorites progress from their groups, we shouldn't have to wait for the big hitters to meet. The round of 32 is where things could get extremely interesting, most notably with a possible matchup between past winners Germany and the French.
On the other side of the bracket, eyes will be drawn to the quarter-final stage, where historic adversaries Messi and Ronaldo are set for a possible clash. It would depend on both Messi's team and Portugal finishing top and squeezing through the initial playoffs.
Regarding the Three Lions, a game against co-hosts Mexico seems the most likely first knockout game. And, if Scotland progress, Japan or the Dutch could await in what would be their first ever World Cup knockout fixture.