🔗 Share this article

The upcoming global tournament is at last beginning to seem tangible. Although fans can finally start marking their calendars, the recent draw in Washington DC was not short of significant headlines.

Well before the Village People performed with YMCA, observers were analyzing a opening round that includes a clash between football's top strikers and a playoff bracket that could produce a truly mouthwatering encounter between legends of the game.

The Draw That Felt Like It Would Go On Forever

Many people tuned in eager to discover their national side's group stage opponents. However, even though fans are used to such ceremonies being lengthy, this one set a new standard.

After acts by a pop star and Nicole Scherzinger, speeches from political leaders and Fifa officials, plus numerous montages and interviews, it finally seemed to begin nearly an hour later. Or so we thought.

This led to more interviews and entertainment, before the actual draw finally commenced around 90 minutes after the glitzy event initially started. The draw itself then took 59 minutes to finish.

On to the Football Itself...

Next summer's 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 increase in size has perhaps led to the initial phase being somewhat weakened in overall strength.

There are hardly any matches between the major nations. The Three Lions' game against their 2018 semi-final opponents is the biggest on paper. That is the sole opening-round game featuring two teams ranked in the top 10.

Brazil versus Morocco is the next best. The Dutch have the most difficult draw by Fifa world rankings, while Germany—drawn against less-fancied opponents—have the easiest on paper. But, interesting matches remain.

Two Prolific Scorers Face Off

Generational goalgetter Erling Haaland will make his debut in his first major tournament in the upcoming finals. The Manchester City forward netted 16 goals in qualifying matches to drag his country to their first appearance since 1998.

Few have been able to rival the youngster's ridiculous goalscoring feats—except for one player is scheduled to face him in the last match of group games. Together with The Lions of Teranga, Norway have been drawn against the French superstar's France.

This means the top marksmen in the English top flight and Spain's division will clash for the initial occasion in on the global stage. Expect goals. Lots of goals.

We Meet Again

El Tri will take on Bafana Bafana in the first game—and not for the first time. The two teams also opened the 2010 edition. That match, ending 1-1, is most famous for a thunderous second-half strike.

Another eye-catching fixture will see the French again come up against the Senegalese, who stunned the reigning title-holders back in the 2002 World Cup. On that first day, a future Fulham midfielder upstaged France's cast of star names 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 tournament for the first occasion. However, awaiting them are past winners, continental title-holders and Copa America winners.

In one group, Curacao, the smallest nation to ever play at a World Cup, will meet four-time winners Germany. Cape Verde, with a population of around half a million, will face European champions and former champions La Roja.

Jordan, after 40 years of trying, meets defending champions La Albiceleste and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be guided by a former champion against Cristiano Ronaldo's Selecao das Quinas.

What About the Playoff Rounds?

Assuming all the top teams progress from their groups, we shouldn't have to wait for the heavyweights to collide. The last 16 is where things could get really tasty, most notably with a potential tie between former champions the Germans and the French.

On the other side of the bracket, eyes will be drawn to the last eight, where historic adversaries the Argentine and the Portuguese are lined up for a possible clash. It would depend on both Argentina and Ronaldo's side winning their groups and navigating the initial playoffs.

For England, a match with co-hosts Mexico seems the probable last-32 tie. Should Scotland are able to get through, Japan or the Dutch could await in what would be their first ever World Cup knockout fixture.