Mbappe vs Haaland, Fantasy Fixtures and YMCA: The Highlights from the FIFA Draw Ceremony

The upcoming global tournament is at last starting to feel tangible. While supporters are now able to begin planning their schedules, the recent ceremony in the US capital was full of major talking points.

Long before the Village People performed with YMCA, 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 meeting between legends of the game.

The Ceremony That Felt Like It May Never End

Numerous viewers logged on keen to discover their national side's group stage fixtures. However, even though supporters are used to these draws being lengthy, this one set a new standard.

Following performances by a pop star and Nicole Scherzinger, addresses from political leaders and football's governing body, plus countless montages and discussions, it finally seemed to begin almost 60 minutes later. That was an illusion.

Cue further commentary 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 World Cup will be the biggest in the competition's history, with a record 48 teams and a new round of 32. Yet, this expansion has maybe resulted in the initial phase being somewhat weakened in overall strength.

There are very few fixtures between the traditional powerhouses. England's match with their 2018 semi-final opponents is the most significant theoretically. That is the only group fixture with two teams ranked in the top 10.

Brazil versus The Atlas Lions is the next best. The Netherlands have the toughest group by Fifa world rankings, while Germany—drawn against Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao—have the easiest on paper. But, compelling contests still await.

A Pair of Prolific Scorers Go Head-to-Head

Phenomenal striker Erling Haaland will get a crack at his first major tournament in the upcoming finals. The Manchester City striker netted 16 goals in eight matches to single-handedly carry his nation to their first appearance since 1998.

Hardly any have managed to come close to the 25-year-old's incredible goalscoring feats—but someone who has is set to come up against him in the final round of group games. Together with Senegal, Norway have been drawn against the French superstar's Les Bleus.

This means the leading scorers in the Premier League and La Liga will go head-to-head for the first time in international football. Expect goals. Plenty of scoring.

A Familiar Foe

Mexico will take on Bafana Bafana in the first game—repeating history. The sides also opened the 2010 edition. That game, which finished 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 2002. On that first day, a then-unknown player outshone France's cast of star names to score the winning goal.

Dream Ties for the Debutants

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have benefited from the expanded World Cup to reach the tournament for the first time. However, standing in their way are former world champions, continental title-holders and Copa America winners.

In one group, Curacao, the least populous country to ever feature in a World Cup, will take on multiple winners Die Mannschaft. The island nation, with a resident count of around 600,000, will face Euro winners and 2010 World Cup winners Spain.

Jordan, after decades of trying, will face defending champions Argentina and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be led 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 meet. The last 16 is where things could get really tasty, most notably with a potential tie between past winners Germany and the French.

On the other side of the draw, eyes will be fixed on the quarter-final stage, where historic adversaries Messi and the Portuguese are set for a potential showdown. It would require both Messi's team and Portugal finishing top and navigating the early knockout rounds.

Regarding the Three Lions, a game against co-hosts Mexico seems the probable first knockout game. 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.