🔗 Share this article

Next summer's global tournament is finally beginning to seem very real. Although fans can finally start planning their schedules, the recent ceremony in Washington DC was full of major talking points.

Well before the iconic group performed with their classic hit, we were left picking the bones out of a opening round that includes a clash between football's top forwards and a knockout stage that could produce a truly mouthwatering encounter between legends of the game.

The Ceremony That Seemed Like It May Never End

Many people tuned in keen to find out their national side's group stage opponents. However, even though fans are accustomed to such ceremonies being lengthy, this was extraordinary.

Following acts by a pop star and Nicole Scherzinger, speeches from dignitaries and football's governing body, plus countless video packages and interviews, it finally seemed to begin nearly an hour later. Or so we thought.

This led to more interviews and performances, before the actual draw finally commenced nearly an hour and a half after the star-studded show initially started. The draw itself then took 59 minutes to finish.

On to the Football Itself...

Next summer's tournament will be the largest in history, with a record 48 teams and a first-ever additional knockout round. However, this increase in size has perhaps led to the initial phase being somewhat weakened in quality.

There are very few fixtures between the major nations. England's match with Croatia is the most significant theoretically. That is the only group fixture with two teams ranked in the top 10.

The Selecao versus Morocco is the next best. The Netherlands have the toughest group by official standings, while Die Mannschaft—grouped with less-fancied opponents—have the weakest. Nevertheless, compelling contests still await.

Two Goal Machines Face Off

Phenomenal striker Erling Haaland will get a crack at his first major tournament in the upcoming finals. The Premier League striker netted 16 goals in eight matches to drag his nation to their first appearance since 1998.

Few have managed to come close to the 25-year-old's ridiculous scoring records—except for one player is scheduled to face him in the final round of group games. Together with The Lions of Teranga, Norway have been drawn against Kylian Mbappe's France.

This means the top marksmen in the English top flight and Spain's division will clash for the first time in on the global stage. Anticipate goals. Lots of goals.

We Meet Again

Mexico will take on Bafana Bafana in the first game—repeating history. The two teams also kicked off the 2010 edition. That match, which finished 1-1, is most famous for a thunderous second-half strike.

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

Fantasy Fixtures for the Debutants

Four new nations have benefited from the larger World Cup to reach the finals for the first occasion. But, standing in their way are former world champions, European champions and South American champions.

In one group, the tiny Caribbean island, the smallest nation to ever feature in a World Cup, will take on four-time winners Germany. The island nation, with a resident count of around half a million, will face Euro winners and 2010 World Cup winners Spain.

The Middle Eastern side, after 40 years of trying, meets defending champions La Albiceleste and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be led by a former champion against Cristiano Ronaldo's Selecao das Quinas.

What About the Playoff Rounds?

If all the favorites make it safely through their groups, fans may not wait long for the heavyweights to meet. The last 16 is where things could get extremely interesting, most notably with a potential tie between past winners the Germans and the French.

On the other side of the draw, eyes will be drawn to the quarter-final stage, where old rivals the Argentine and Ronaldo are set for a possible clash. It would depend on both Argentina and Portugal winning their groups and squeezing through the initial playoffs.

For England, a game against tournament hosts seems the probable last-32 tie. And, if the Scots are able to get through, Japan or the Dutch could be waiting in what would be their first ever World Cup knockout fixture.