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

The upcoming World Cup is finally beginning to seem very real. While fans are now able to begin planning their schedules, the recent ceremony in the US capital was full of major talking points.

Well before the Village People took to the stage with their classic hit, observers were analyzing a opening round that includes a clash between two of the world's best strikers and a playoff bracket promising a truly mouthwatering encounter between legends of the game.

The Ceremony That Seemed Like It Would Go On Forever

Many people logged on eager to discover their team's initial fixtures. However, even though supporters are accustomed to these draws being lengthy, this was extraordinary.

Following acts by Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger, speeches from political leaders and football's governing body, plus numerous montages and discussions, it eventually appeared to begin nearly an hour later. Or so we thought.

Cue more interviews and entertainment, before the real selection process finally commenced around 90 minutes after the star-studded show initially started. The selection then took 59 minutes to finish.

On to the Actual Football...

Next summer's tournament will be the largest in history, with a unprecedented number of nations and a first-ever additional knockout round. However, this increase in size has maybe resulted in the initial phase being slightly diluted in quality.

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

Brazil versus Morocco is the second most intriguing. The Dutch have the most difficult draw by Fifa world rankings, while Die Mannschaft—grouped with less-fancied opponents—have the weakest. But, interesting matches remain.

A Pair of Goal Machines Go Head-to-Head

Generational goalgetter Erling Haaland will get a crack at his first major tournament next summer. The Premier League striker scored 16 times in qualifying matches to drag his country to their first appearance since 1998.

Few have been able to rival the youngster's incredible goalscoring feats—except for one player is scheduled to face him in the last match of the group stage. Together with The Lions of Teranga, The Nordic side have been paired with Kylian Mbappe's France.

This means the leading scorers in the Premier League and Spain's division will go head-to-head for the first time in on the global stage. Expect goals. Lots of goals.

We Meet Again

Mexico will take on Bafana Bafana in the first game—and not for the first time. The two teams also kicked off the tournament in South Africa. That game, which finished 1-1, is best remembered for a rasping second-half strike.

Another notable fixture will see France once more face the Senegalese, who shocked the reigning title-holders back in the 2002 World Cup. On that opening night, a future Fulham midfielder upstaged France's galaxy of stars to score the decisive goal.

Dream Ties for the First-Timers

Four new nations have benefited from the larger World Cup to qualify for the tournament for the first occasion. But, awaiting them 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 meet four-time winners Die Mannschaft. The island nation, with a population of around 600,000, will face Euro winners and 2010 World Cup winners La Roja.

The Middle Eastern side, after 40 years of trying, meets title-holders Argentina and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be led by a 2006 World Cup winner against Cristiano Ronaldo's Selecao das Quinas.

And Then Comes the Knockout Stage?

Assuming all the top teams make it safely through their groups, fans may not wait long for the big hitters to collide. The round of 32 is where things could get really tasty, most notably with a possible matchup between former champions Germany and France.

On the opposite half of the draw, eyes will be drawn to the last eight, where historic adversaries Messi and the Portuguese are set for a potential showdown. It would require both Argentina and Portugal winning their groups and squeezing through the initial playoffs.

Regarding the Three Lions, a match with co-hosts Mexico seems the most likely first knockout game. Should the Scots progress, Samurai Blue or the Netherlands could await in what would be their first ever World Cup knockout fixture.