Haaland vs Mbappe, Fantasy Fixtures and YMCA: The Highlights from the World Cup Draw

Next summer's World Cup is at last starting to feel very real. While fans can finally start planning their schedules, the recent draw in Washington DC was not short of major talking points.

Well before the iconic group took to the stage with YMCA, we were left picking the bones out of a opening round featuring a showdown between football's top forwards and a knockout stage that could produce a highly anticipated encounter between two greats of the game.

The Draw That Felt Like It May Never End

Numerous viewers logged on keen to discover their team's initial opponents. However, even though fans are accustomed to these draws taking some time, this was extraordinary.

Following acts by a pop star and Nicole Scherzinger, addresses from political leaders and Fifa officials, plus countless montages and interviews, it finally seemed to begin almost 60 minutes later. Or so we thought.

This led to more interviews and performances, before the actual draw eventually began nearly an hour and a half after the star-studded show first kicked off. The selection then required almost an hour to complete.

Moving On to the Football Itself...

The upcoming tournament will be the largest in the competition's history, with a record 48 teams and a new round of 32. Yet, this increase in size has perhaps led to the initial phase being somewhat weakened in quality.

There are hardly any fixtures between the traditional powerhouses. The Three Lions' match with their 2018 semi-final opponents is the biggest on paper. That is the only group fixture with two teams inside the world's elite.

Brazil versus The Atlas Lions is the next best. The Dutch have the most difficult draw by official standings, while Germany—grouped with less-fancied opponents—have the weakest. But, interesting matches still await.

A Pair of Goal Machines Go Head-to-Head

Phenomenal striker Norway's star will make his debut in his first major tournament next summer. The Premier League striker scored 16 times in qualifying matches to single-handedly carry his country 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 scheduled to come up against him in the final round of group games. Together with Senegal, 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 initial occasion in on the global stage. Anticipate net-bulgers. Lots of goals.

We Meet Again

Mexico will face South Africa in the first game—repeating history. The sides also kicked off the tournament in South Africa. That match, ending 1-1, is best remembered for a rasping goal.

Another eye-catching fixture will see France again come up against Senegal, who shocked the reigning title-holders back in the 2002 World Cup. On that first day, a future Fulham midfielder outshone France's galaxy of stars to score the winning goal.

Fantasy Fixtures for the Debutants

Four new nations have taken advantage of the expanded World Cup to qualify for the finals for the first occasion. But, awaiting them 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 meet multiple winners Die Mannschaft. Cape Verde, with a resident count of around 600,000, will face European champions and former champions La Roja.

Jordan, after decades of trying, meets defending champions Argentina and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be guided by a 2006 World Cup winner against the Portuguese icon's Selecao das Quinas.

And Then Comes the Playoff Rounds?

Assuming all the favorites make it safely through their groups, fans may not wait long for the heavyweights to collide. The round of 32 is where things could get extremely interesting, most notably with a potential tie between past winners Germany and France.

On the other side of the bracket, eyes will be drawn to the last eight, where historic adversaries Messi and Ronaldo are set for a possible showdown. It would depend on both Argentina and Ronaldo's side winning their groups and squeezing through the early knockout rounds.

Regarding the Three Lions, a match with co-hosts Mexico seems the probable last-32 tie. And, if Scotland are able to get through, Japan or the Dutch could be waiting in what would be their first ever World Cup knockout fixture.