Next summer's World Cup is finally starting to feel very real. Although supporters can finally start marking their calendars, Friday's ceremony in Washington DC was not short of significant headlines.
Long before the Village People took to the stage with YMCA, we were left analyzing a group stage that includes a clash between two of the world's best strikers and a playoff bracket promising a highly anticipated encounter between legends of the sport.
Many people logged on eager to discover their national side's group stage fixtures. However, even though supporters are used to such ceremonies taking some time, this one set a new standard.
After acts by a pop star and a former Pussycat Doll, addresses from political leaders and football's governing body, plus countless montages and interviews, it finally seemed to get going nearly an hour later. Or so we thought.
Cue more interviews and performances, before the actual draw finally commenced around 90 minutes after the star-studded show first kicked off. The selection then took 59 minutes to complete.
The upcoming World Cup will be the biggest in history, with a unprecedented number of nations and a new round of 32. However, this increase in size has maybe resulted in the group stage being somewhat weakened in overall strength.
There are hardly any matches between the traditional powerhouses. England's game against their 2018 semi-final opponents is the biggest 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 Dutch have the toughest group by Fifa world rankings, while Germany—drawn against less-fancied opponents—have the weakest. Nevertheless, interesting matches still await.
Phenomenal striker Norway's star will make his debut in his first major tournament in the upcoming finals. The Manchester City striker netted 16 goals in eight matches to single-handedly carry his nation to their first appearance since 1998.
Hardly any have been able to rival the youngster's ridiculous goalscoring feats—but someone who has is set to come up against him in the last match of the group stage. Along with The Lions of Teranga, The Nordic side have been paired with the French superstar's France.
This means the top marksmen in the English top flight and Spain's division will clash for the first time in international football. Anticipate net-bulgers. Plenty of scoring.
Mexico will take on South Africa in the first game—repeating history. The sides also kicked off the 2010 edition. That game, ending 1-1, is best remembered for a rasping goal.
Another notable fixture will see the French once more face the Senegalese, who shocked the reigning title-holders back in the 2002 World Cup. On that opening night, a then-unknown player outshone France's cast of star names to score the decisive goal.
Four new nations have benefited from the expanded World Cup to reach the finals for the first time. But, standing in their way are former world champions, continental title-holders and South American champions.
In one group, the tiny Caribbean island, 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 600,000, will face Euro winners and former champions La Roja.
Jordan, after decades of trying, will face title-holders Argentina and Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be guided by a former champion against the Portuguese icon's Portugal.
If all the top teams make it safely through their groups, fans may not wait long for the heavyweights to collide. The last 16 is where things could get really tasty, most notably with a potential tie between past winners the Germans and the French.
On the other side of the bracket, eyes will be drawn to the quarter-final stage, where historic adversaries the Argentine and Ronaldo are lined up for a potential showdown. It would require both Messi's team and Portugal winning their groups and navigating the early knockout rounds.
For England, a match with co-hosts Mexico seems the probable last-32 tie. Should 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.
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