🔗 Share this article

The upcoming World Cup is finally beginning to seem tangible. While fans are now able to begin planning their schedules, the recent ceremony in Washington DC was full of significant headlines.

Long before the Village People took to the stage with YMCA, observers were analyzing a opening round featuring a showdown between football's top forwards and a knockout stage promising a truly mouthwatering meeting between legends of the game.

The Draw That Felt Like It May Never End

Numerous viewers tuned in eager to find out their team's group stage fixtures. However, despite the fact supporters are used to such ceremonies taking some time, this one set a new standard.

After acts by Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger, addresses from dignitaries and football's governing body, plus countless video packages and discussions, it eventually appeared to get going almost 60 minutes later. That was an illusion.

Cue further commentary and entertainment, before the actual draw finally commenced nearly an hour and a half after the star-studded show initially started. The draw itself then required almost an hour to finish.

On to the Actual Football...

Next summer's World Cup will be the biggest in the competition's history, with a record 48 teams and a new round of 32. Yet, this increase in size has maybe resulted in the initial phase being slightly diluted in overall strength.

There are very few fixtures between the traditional powerhouses. The Three Lions' game against Croatia is the biggest on paper. That is the only group fixture with two teams inside the world's elite.

Brazil versus The Atlas Lions is the next best. The Netherlands have the toughest group by Fifa world rankings, while Germany—grouped with Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao—have the easiest on paper. Nevertheless, interesting matches still await.

A Pair of Prolific Scorers Go Head-to-Head

Generational goalgetter Norway's star will make his debut in his major international competition next summer. The Premier League forward 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 scoring records—except for one player is scheduled to come up against him in the last match of group games. Along with Senegal, The Nordic side have been paired with the French superstar's France.

This means the leading scorers in the Premier League and La Liga will clash for the initial occasion in international football. Expect net-bulgers. Lots of goals.

A Familiar Foe

Mexico will face South Africa in the opening match—and not for the first time. The sides also kicked off the 2010 edition. That game, which finished 1-1, is best remembered for a rasping goal.

Another eye-catching fixture will see France again come up against Senegal, who shocked the then-world champions back in 2002. On that opening night, a then-unknown player outshone France's galaxy of stars to score the decisive goal.

Fantasy Fixtures for the Debutants

Four new nations have taken advantage of the larger World Cup to reach the tournament for the first occasion. However, awaiting them are past winners, continental title-holders and South American champions.

In one group, Curacao, 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 former champions La Roja.

Jordan, after decades of trying, will face defending champions Argentina and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be guided by a 2006 World Cup winner against the Portuguese icon's Selecao das Quinas.

And Then Comes the Knockout Stage?

If all the favorites progress from 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 potential tie between past winners the Germans and the French.

On the other side of the bracket, eyes will be fixed on the quarter-final stage, where historic adversaries Messi and Ronaldo are lined up for a potential clash. It would require both Messi's team and Ronaldo's side winning their groups and squeezing through the initial playoffs.

For England, a game against co-hosts Mexico seems the probable last-32 tie. And, if Scotland progress, Japan or the Netherlands could await in what would be their historic World Cup playoff match.