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

Next summer's global tournament is at last starting to feel tangible. Although supporters are now able to begin marking their calendars, Friday's draw in Washington DC was full of significant headlines.

Well before the Village People took to the stage with their classic hit, observers were picking the bones out of a group stage featuring a clash between football's top strikers and a playoff bracket promising a truly mouthwatering meeting between two greats of the sport.

The Ceremony That Felt Like It Would Go On Forever

Many people tuned in keen to find out their team's initial fixtures. However, despite the fact fans are accustomed to such ceremonies being lengthy, this was extraordinary.

After acts by Robbie Williams and a former Pussycat Doll, addresses from dignitaries and football's governing body, plus countless video packages and discussions, it finally seemed to get going nearly an hour later. That was an illusion.

Cue further commentary and performances, before the actual draw finally commenced nearly an hour and a half after the star-studded show first kicked off. The selection then took 59 minutes to finish.

Moving On to the Football Itself...

Next summer's tournament will be the biggest in the competition's history, with a record 48 teams and a new round of 32. However, this expansion has perhaps led to the group stage being somewhat weakened in overall strength.

There are very few fixtures between the traditional powerhouses. England's game against Croatia is the biggest theoretically. That is the sole opening-round game with two teams inside the world's elite.

The Selecao versus Morocco is the next best. The Netherlands have the toughest group by official standings, while Germany—drawn against less-fancied opponents—have the easiest on paper. Nevertheless, compelling contests remain.

Two Goal Machines Go Head-to-Head

Phenomenal striker Norway's star will get a crack at his first major tournament next summer. The Premier League striker netted 16 goals in eight matches to single-handedly carry his country to their initial berth since 1998.

Few have managed to rival the youngster's ridiculous goalscoring feats—but someone who has is set to come up against him in the last match of group games. Along with The Lions of Teranga, The Nordic side have been paired with Kylian Mbappe's Les Bleus.

This means the leading scorers in the English top flight and La Liga will go head-to-head for the initial occasion in on the global stage. Expect goals. Lots of goals.

A Familiar Foe

Mexico will take on South Africa in the opening match—and not for the first time. The sides also opened the tournament in South Africa. 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 shocked the then-world champions back in 2002. On that first day, a future Fulham midfielder upstaged France's galaxy of stars to score the decisive goal.

Fantasy Fixtures for the Debutants

Four new nations have benefited from the larger World Cup to qualify for the tournament for the first occasion. But, standing in their way are former world champions, European champions and Copa America winners.

In one group, the tiny Caribbean island, the smallest nation to ever feature in a World Cup, will take on multiple winners Germany. The island nation, with a population of around half a million, will face European champions and former champions La Roja.

The Middle Eastern side, after decades of trying, meets title-holders Argentina and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be guided by a 2006 World Cup winner against the Portuguese icon's Portugal.

And Then Comes the Knockout Stage?

If all the top teams make it safely through their groups, we shouldn't have to wait for the big hitters to collide. The last 16 is where things could get really tasty, most notably with a potential tie between former champions Germany and the French.

On the opposite half of the bracket, eyes will be drawn to the quarter-final stage, where old rivals Messi and the Portuguese are set for a possible showdown. It would depend on both Messi's team and Ronaldo's side finishing top and navigating the initial playoffs.

Regarding the Three Lions, a match with co-hosts Mexico seems the probable first knockout game. And, if the Scots are able to get through, Samurai Blue or the Netherlands could await in what would be their first ever World Cup playoff match.