🔗 Share this article

Next summer's World Cup is finally beginning to seem very real. While supporters are now able to begin planning their schedules, Friday's ceremony in Washington DC was not short of major talking points.

Well before the iconic group performed with their classic hit, observers were analyzing a opening round featuring a showdown between football's top strikers and a playoff bracket promising a truly mouthwatering encounter between two greats of the game.

The Draw That Seemed Like It May Never End

Many people logged on keen to find out their team's group stage fixtures. However, even though fans are accustomed to such ceremonies being lengthy, this one set a new standard.

After performances by Robbie Williams and a former Pussycat Doll, addresses from dignitaries and Fifa officials, plus countless video packages and discussions, it finally seemed to begin nearly an hour later. Or so we thought.

Cue further commentary and performances, before the actual draw finally commenced around 90 minutes after the star-studded show initially started. The selection then required almost an hour to finish.

On to the Football Itself...

Next summer's tournament will be the largest in history, with a record 48 teams and a new round of 32. However, this expansion has maybe resulted in the group stage being slightly diluted in overall strength.

There are very few fixtures between the major nations. The Three Lions' match with Croatia is the most significant on paper. That is the sole opening-round game featuring two teams inside the world's elite.

The Selecao versus The Atlas Lions is the second most intriguing. The Netherlands have the toughest group by official standings, while Die Mannschaft—drawn against less-fancied opponents—have the weakest. Nevertheless, interesting matches still await.

Two Prolific Scorers Face Off

Generational goalgetter Norway's star will get a crack at his first major tournament in the upcoming finals. The Premier League forward scored 16 times in qualifying matches to drag his nation to their initial berth since 1998.

Few have managed to come close to the 25-year-old's ridiculous goalscoring feats—except for one player is set to come up against him in the last match of group games. Together with Senegal, The Nordic side have been paired with the French superstar's France.

This means the top marksmen in the English top flight and La Liga will clash for the first time in on the global stage. Anticipate goals. Plenty of scoring.

A Familiar Foe

El Tri will take on South Africa in the first game—repeating history. The sides also opened the tournament in South Africa. That game, ending 1-1, is most famous for a rasping second-half strike.

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 winning goal.

Fantasy Fixtures for the First-Timers

Four new nations have taken advantage of the expanded World Cup to reach the tournament for the first occasion. However, standing in their way are past winners, European champions and Copa America winners.

In one group, Curacao, the least populous country to ever feature in a World Cup, will meet four-time winners Die Mannschaft. Cape Verde, with a resident count of around half a million, will face Euro winners and 2010 World Cup winners Spain.

Jordan, after 40 years of trying, will face title-holders Argentina and the legendary forward. 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 favorites progress from their groups, fans may not wait long for the big hitters to collide. The round of 32 is where things could get really tasty, most notably with a possible matchup between former champions Germany and the French.

On the opposite half of the draw, eyes will be drawn to the last eight, where old rivals the Argentine and the Portuguese are set for a potential showdown. It would depend on both Argentina and Ronaldo's side finishing top and navigating the initial playoffs.

Regarding the Three Lions, a game against tournament hosts seems the most likely last-32 tie. And, if Scotland progress, Samurai Blue or the Netherlands could await in what would be their historic World Cup playoff match.