Haaland vs Mbappe, Dream Match-ups and The Village People: Key Moments from the FIFA Draw Ceremony

The upcoming World Cup is at last beginning to seem tangible. While fans are now able to begin planning their schedules, Friday's draw in the US capital was not short of major talking points.

Long before the iconic group took to the stage with their classic hit, observers were analyzing a group stage featuring a clash between two of the world's best forwards and a knockout stage promising a truly mouthwatering encounter between legends of the game.

The Ceremony That Felt Like It Would Go On Forever

Numerous viewers tuned in eager to find out their national side's initial fixtures. However, even though fans are used to such ceremonies being lengthy, this one set a new standard.

After acts by Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger, addresses from political leaders and football's governing body, plus numerous montages and interviews, it finally seemed to get going almost 60 minutes later. That was an illusion.

Cue more interviews and performances, before the actual draw eventually began around 90 minutes after the glitzy event first kicked off. The draw itself then required almost an hour to complete.

Moving On to the Football Itself...

Next summer's World Cup will be the largest in history, with a record 48 teams and a new round of 32. However, this expansion has perhaps led to the group stage being somewhat weakened in quality.

There are hardly any fixtures between the major nations. England's match with their 2018 semi-final opponents is the biggest theoretically. That is the only group fixture with two teams inside the world's elite.

Brazil versus The Atlas Lions is the next best. The Netherlands have the most difficult draw by Fifa world rankings, while Die Mannschaft—grouped with Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao—have the easiest on paper. Nevertheless, compelling contests still await.

Two Goal Machines Go Head-to-Head

Generational goalgetter Norway's star will make his debut in his major international competition in the upcoming finals. The Premier League forward scored 16 times in eight matches to single-handedly carry his nation to their initial berth since 1998.

Hardly any have managed to come close to the 25-year-old's incredible goalscoring feats—except for one player is set to come up against him in the final round of the group stage. Along with The Lions of Teranga, The Nordic side have been paired with the French superstar's Les Bleus.

This means the top marksmen in the English top flight and Spain's division will go head-to-head for the first time in international football. Expect goals. Plenty of scoring.

A Familiar Foe

El Tri will take on South Africa in the opening match—repeating history. The sides also opened the tournament in South Africa. That game, ending 1-1, is best remembered for a rasping goal.

Another notable group game will see France once more face the Senegalese, who shocked the then-world champions back in the 2002 World Cup. On that opening night, a then-unknown player upstaged France's cast of star names to score the decisive goal.

Dream Ties for the First-Timers

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have taken advantage of the larger World Cup to reach the finals for the first occasion. However, awaiting them are former world champions, continental title-holders and Copa America winners.

In one group, the tiny Caribbean island, the smallest nation to ever feature in a World Cup, will meet multiple winners Die Mannschaft. Cape Verde, with a resident count of around 600,000, will face Euro winners and 2010 World Cup winners La Roja.

The Middle Eastern side, after decades of trying, meets title-holders La Albiceleste and Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be led by a 2006 World Cup winner against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal.

And Then Comes the Knockout Stage?

If all the top teams 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 the Germans and France.

On the opposite half of the bracket, eyes will be drawn to the quarter-final stage, where old rivals Messi and Ronaldo are set for a potential showdown. It would depend on both Argentina and Ronaldo's side winning their groups and squeezing through the initial playoffs.

Regarding the Three Lions, a game against tournament hosts seems the probable first knockout game. Should Scotland progress, Japan or the Dutch could await in what would be their historic World Cup knockout fixture.