🔗 Share this article

Next summer's World Cup is finally beginning to seem very real. While supporters can finally start planning their schedules, Friday's ceremony in Washington DC was not short of significant headlines.

Well before the Village People performed with YMCA, observers were picking the bones out of a opening round featuring a showdown between football's top strikers and a knockout stage promising a highly anticipated encounter between two greats of the game.

The Draw That Felt Like It May Never End

Many people logged on eager to find out their national side's initial fixtures. But, even though supporters are accustomed to such ceremonies taking some time, this was extraordinary.

Following acts by a pop star and Nicole Scherzinger, addresses from dignitaries and football's governing body, plus countless montages and discussions, it finally seemed to get going nearly an hour later. That was an illusion.

This led to more interviews and entertainment, before the real selection process finally commenced nearly an hour and a half after the glitzy event first kicked off. The selection then took 59 minutes to complete.

Moving On to the Football Itself...

Next summer's World Cup will be the largest in history, with a unprecedented number of nations and a new round of 32. Yet, this expansion has perhaps led to the group stage being somewhat weakened in overall strength.

There are hardly any fixtures between the traditional powerhouses. The Three Lions' match with their 2018 semi-final opponents is the biggest theoretically. That is the sole opening-round game featuring two teams ranked in the top 10.

The Selecao versus Morocco 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, interesting matches remain.

A Pair of Goal Machines Face Off

Generational goalgetter Erling Haaland will get a crack at his major international competition next summer. The Manchester City forward netted 16 goals in qualifying matches to single-handedly carry his country to their initial berth since 1998.

Few have been able to come close to the 25-year-old's incredible goalscoring feats—but someone who has is scheduled to come up against him in the last match of group games. Together with The Lions of Teranga, The Nordic side have been paired with the French superstar's France.

This means the leading scorers in the English top flight and La Liga will clash for the first time in international football. Anticipate net-bulgers. Plenty of scoring.

A Familiar Foe

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 rasping goal.

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

Fantasy Fixtures for the Debutants

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have taken advantage of the expanded World Cup to reach the finals for the first time. However, standing in their way are former world champions, continental title-holders and South American champions.

In one group, the tiny Caribbean island, the smallest nation to ever play at a World Cup, will meet multiple winners Germany. Cape Verde, with a population 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 Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be guided by a 2006 World Cup winner against Cristiano Ronaldo's Selecao das Quinas.

And Then Comes the Playoff Rounds?

Assuming all the top teams progress from their groups, fans may not wait long for the big hitters to collide. The round of 32 is where things could get extremely interesting, most notably with a possible matchup between former champions Germany and the French.

On the other side of the draw, eyes will be fixed on the quarter-final stage, where old rivals the Argentine and the Portuguese are set for a possible showdown. It would require both Argentina and Portugal finishing top and squeezing through the initial playoffs.

For England, a match with tournament hosts seems the probable last-32 tie. And, if the Scots progress, Japan or the Netherlands could be waiting in what would be their first ever World Cup playoff match.