Mbappe vs Haaland, Fantasy Fixtures and YMCA: Key Moments from the FIFA Draw Ceremony

The upcoming World Cup is at last starting to feel very real. Although fans are now able to begin planning their schedules, the recent draw in the US capital was full of major talking points.

Long before the Village People performed with YMCA, we were left picking the bones out of a group stage that includes a showdown between two of the world's best strikers and a playoff bracket that could produce a truly mouthwatering encounter between legends of the sport.

The Draw That Felt Like It Would Go On Forever

Numerous viewers logged on keen to find out their national side's initial opponents. However, despite the fact fans are accustomed to these draws being lengthy, this was extraordinary.

Following performances by a pop star and a former Pussycat Doll, addresses from dignitaries and Fifa officials, plus countless montages and discussions, it eventually appeared to get going nearly an hour later. Or so we thought.

This led to further commentary and performances, before the actual draw eventually began around 90 minutes after the glitzy event initially started. The selection then took 59 minutes to complete.

Moving On to the Actual Football...

Next summer's World Cup will be the biggest in the competition's history, with a unprecedented number of nations and a new round of 32. Yet, this expansion has perhaps led to the initial phase being slightly diluted in quality.

There are hardly any matches between the traditional powerhouses. The Three Lions' match with their 2018 semi-final opponents is the biggest theoretically. That is the only group fixture featuring two teams ranked in the top 10.

The Selecao versus Morocco is the second most intriguing. The Dutch have the toughest group by Fifa world rankings, while Die Mannschaft—drawn against Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao—have the easiest on paper. But, interesting matches still await.

A Pair of Goal Machines Go Head-to-Head

Phenomenal striker Norway's star will get a crack at his first major tournament in the upcoming finals. The Manchester City striker netted 16 goals in eight matches to single-handedly carry his country to their initial berth since 1998.

Hardly any have been able to come close to the youngster's incredible scoring records—but someone who has is scheduled to come up against him in the final round of the group stage. Together with The Lions of Teranga, The Nordic side have been drawn against 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 first time in international football. Expect net-bulgers. Plenty of scoring.

We Meet Again

El Tri will face South Africa in the opening match—repeating history. The sides also opened the 2010 edition. That game, which finished 1-1, is best remembered for a thunderous second-half strike.

Another eye-catching group game will see France again come up against Senegal, who shocked the then-world champions back in 2002. On that first day, a future Fulham midfielder outshone France's galaxy of stars to score the winning goal.

Dream Ties for the First-Timers

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have taken advantage of the expanded World Cup to qualify for the tournament for the first occasion. But, awaiting them are past winners, European champions and South American champions.

In one group, Curacao, the smallest nation to ever play at a World Cup, will meet multiple winners Die Mannschaft. The island nation, with a population of around half a million, will face Euro winners and former champions Spain.

The Middle Eastern side, after 40 years of trying, will face title-holders Argentina and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be led by a 2006 World Cup winner against the Portuguese icon's Portugal.

And Then Comes the Knockout Stage?

Assuming all the favorites make it safely through their groups, fans may not wait long for the heavyweights to collide. The round of 32 is where things could get really tasty, most notably with a potential tie between past winners the Germans and the French.

On the opposite half of the draw, eyes will be drawn to the quarter-final stage, where old rivals the Argentine and the Portuguese are set for a possible showdown. It would require both Messi's team and Portugal winning their groups and navigating the early knockout rounds.

Regarding the Three Lions, a match with tournament hosts seems the probable last-32 tie. And, if the Scots progress, Samurai Blue or the Netherlands could await in what would be their first ever World Cup knockout fixture.