Haaland vs Mbappe, Fantasy Fixtures and YMCA: 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 marking their calendars, Friday's draw in Washington DC was not short of significant headlines.

Well before the iconic group performed with their classic hit, observers were picking the bones out of a opening round that includes a clash between football's top strikers and a playoff bracket that could produce a truly mouthwatering encounter between two greats of the sport.

The Draw That Felt Like It May Never End

Many people logged on eager to discover their national side's group stage opponents. However, despite the fact fans are accustomed to such ceremonies being lengthy, this one set a new standard.

Following performances by a pop star and a former Pussycat Doll, addresses from dignitaries and football's governing body, 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 initially started. The selection then required almost an hour to finish.

Moving On to the Football Itself...

Next summer's tournament will be the biggest in history, with a record 48 teams and a first-ever additional knockout round. However, this expansion has maybe resulted in the group stage being somewhat weakened in overall strength.

There are very few matches between the traditional powerhouses. The Three Lions' match with their 2018 semi-final opponents is the biggest theoretically. That is the only group fixture with two teams ranked in the top 10.

Brazil versus Morocco is the second most intriguing. The Netherlands have the most difficult draw by official standings, while Die Mannschaft—drawn against Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao—have the weakest. Nevertheless, compelling contests remain.

Two Goal Machines Face Off

Generational goalgetter Erling Haaland will get a crack at his major international competition in the upcoming finals. The Premier League striker netted 16 goals in qualifying matches to single-handedly carry his country to their first appearance since 1998.

Hardly any have managed to come close to the 25-year-old's ridiculous goalscoring feats—except for one player is scheduled to face him in the last match of the group stage. Together with Senegal, The Nordic side have been drawn against Kylian Mbappe's France.

This means the top marksmen in the English top flight and La Liga will go head-to-head for the first time in on the global stage. Anticipate net-bulgers. Plenty of scoring.

We Meet Again

El Tri will take on South Africa in the opening match—repeating history. The two teams also kicked off the 2010 edition. That game, ending 1-1, is best remembered for a thunderous second-half strike.

Another eye-catching fixture will see the French once more face Senegal, who shocked the reigning title-holders back in 2002. On that first day, a future Fulham midfielder upstaged France's cast of star names to score the winning goal.

Dream Ties for the Debutants

Four new nations have benefited from the larger World Cup to reach the finals for the first time. But, 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 multiple winners Die Mannschaft. Cape Verde, with a population of around 600,000, will face European champions and former champions La Roja.

The Middle Eastern side, after decades of trying, meets defending champions La Albiceleste and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be led by a former champion against the Portuguese icon's Portugal.

And Then Comes the Playoff Rounds?

If all the top teams make it safely through their groups, we shouldn't have to wait for the big hitters to meet. The round of 32 is where things could get extremely interesting, most notably with a possible matchup between former champions Germany and France.

On the other side of the bracket, eyes will be fixed on the last eight, where historic adversaries the Argentine and the Portuguese are lined up for a potential clash. It would require both Messi's team and Ronaldo's side finishing top and squeezing through the initial playoffs.

For England, a game against tournament hosts seems the most likely first knockout game. And, if the Scots are able to get through, Japan or the Netherlands could be waiting in what would be their historic World Cup knockout fixture.