Mbappe vs Haaland, Dream Match-ups and YMCA: Key Moments from the World Cup Draw

Next summer's World Cup is finally starting to feel very real. While fans are now able to begin marking their calendars, the recent ceremony in the US capital was not short of major talking points.

Well before the Village People 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 promising a highly anticipated meeting between legends of the sport.

The Ceremony That Felt Like It Would Go On Forever

Numerous viewers logged on keen to discover their team's group stage opponents. But, despite the fact supporters are accustomed to such ceremonies being lengthy, this one set a new standard.

Following acts by a pop star and a former Pussycat Doll, addresses from political leaders and football's governing body, plus countless montages and discussions, it eventually appeared to begin almost 60 minutes later. Or so we thought.

This led to more interviews and performances, before the real selection process eventually began around 90 minutes after the star-studded show first kicked off. The selection then took 59 minutes to complete.

Moving On to the Actual Football...

The upcoming World Cup will be the biggest in history, with a unprecedented number of nations and a new round of 32. Yet, this increase in size has maybe resulted in the initial phase being somewhat weakened in quality.

There are very few matches between the traditional powerhouses. England's game against Croatia is the biggest theoretically. That is the only group fixture with two teams ranked in the top 10.

The Selecao versus Morocco is the second most intriguing. The Dutch have the most difficult draw by official standings, while Die Mannschaft—grouped with Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao—have the easiest on paper. But, compelling contests remain.

A Pair of Prolific Scorers Face Off

Generational goalgetter Erling Haaland will get a crack at his first major tournament in the upcoming finals. The Manchester City forward scored 16 times in qualifying matches to single-handedly carry his nation to their first appearance since 1998.

Hardly any have been able to rival the youngster's incredible scoring records—except for one player is scheduled to face him in the final round of group games. Along with Senegal, The Nordic side have been paired with the French superstar's Les Bleus.

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

Mexico will face South Africa in the opening match—repeating history. The two teams also opened the tournament in South Africa. That game, which finished 1-1, is best remembered for a thunderous second-half strike.

Another eye-catching group game will see the French once more face the Senegalese, who shocked the then-world champions back in the 2002 World Cup. On that first day, a then-unknown player outshone France's galaxy of stars to score the decisive goal.

Fantasy Fixtures for the Debutants

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have taken advantage of the larger World Cup to qualify for the tournament for the first time. But, awaiting them are former world champions, continental title-holders and South American champions.

In one group, Curacao, the least populous country to ever feature in a World Cup, will meet four-time winners Die Mannschaft. The island nation, with a population of around half a million, will face European champions and former champions Spain.

Jordan, after decades of trying, meets defending champions La Albiceleste and Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be guided by a former champion against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal.

What About the Knockout Stage?

Assuming all the top teams make it safely through their groups, we shouldn't have to wait for the heavyweights to collide. The last 16 is where things could get really tasty, most notably with a possible matchup between former champions Germany and France.

On the other side of the draw, eyes will be fixed on the quarter-final stage, where old rivals the Argentine and the Portuguese are lined up for a possible showdown. It would require both Messi's team and Portugal winning their groups and squeezing through the initial playoffs.

For England, a match with tournament hosts seems the most likely last-32 tie. And, if Scotland are able to get through, Samurai Blue or the Netherlands could be waiting in what would be their first ever World Cup knockout fixture.