Next summer’s World Cup finally feels within reach, and the official draw in Washington DC delivered drama, surprises, long delays, and even a viral dance moment. Fans from England, Scotland and beyond can now start imagining paths to glory — but the draw itself offered far more than just group allocations.
From an unexpectedly slow ceremony to superstar clashes like Erling Haaland vs Kylian Mbappé, plus potential knockout meetings between football legends, the 2026 World Cup is shaping up to be one of the most eventful tournaments ever.
A World Cup draw that took the scenic route
Supporters tuned in right on time, expecting a straightforward hour of team placements. Instead, they found themselves in an extended entertainment showcase. Musical performances, speeches from major political figures, and repeated cutaways meant nearly an hour passed before anything meaningful happened.
Even once the ceremony looked ready to begin, more interviews and performances followed. By the time the first ball was drawn, nearly 90 minutes had gone by — long enough for commentators to joke that the tournament might begin before the draw even ended.
The process itself lasted almost another hour, making it one of the longest World Cup draws ever staged.
Football first: what the expanded 48-team format delivered
The 2026 World Cup will introduce the tournament’s largest lineup yet, with 48 nations competing across 12 groups of four. That huge expansion brings excitement — but it also means fewer clashes between major footballing giants in the group phase.
Only one group match features two teams ranked inside the world’s top 10: England vs Croatia, a rematch of their 2018 semi-final showdown. Brazil vs Morocco is the next closest heavyweight pairing.
Some nations ended up with deceptively easy groups on paper, while others face far tougher tests. Germany, for example, drew one of the weakest groups by ranking, while the Netherlands find themselves in a challenging mix.
Still, the draw produced several standout fixtures, including one the world has been waiting for.
Haaland vs Mbappé: a group-stage clash made for global headlines
Perhaps the most exciting result of the entire draw is the long-awaited international showdown between two of football’s most unstoppable goal scorers: Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé.
Haaland enters his first major international tournament after smashing qualification records for Norway, while Mbappé continues to chase national history as he edges closer to becoming France’s all-time leading scorer.
With both forwards dominating domestic football — Haaland in the Premier League and Mbappé in La Liga — their meeting in Group I is expected to be one of the most watched matches of the entire group stage.
Their managers have already described the matchup as a “world-class duel,” and fans are expecting goals, fast breaks, and fireworks.
Familiar faces revisited: historic matchups return
The draw also reunited several teams with memorable World Cup history.
Mexico and South Africa will open the tournament at the iconic Estadio Azteca, echoing their dramatic meeting during the 2010 World Cup’s opening match.
Meanwhile, France and Senegal will face off in a rematch of Senegal’s famous 2002 upset — a game still remembered as one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history.
Debut nations get dream — and daunting — fixtures
Several countries will make their first-ever World Cup appearance thanks to the expanded format: Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan, and Curaçao. Their reward? Nothing short of footballing giants.
- Curaçao will debut against four-time champions Germany.
- Cape Verde begin their journey with European and former world champions Spain.
- Jordan’s first World Cup match will come against defending champions Argentina.
- Uzbekistan face Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in a historic meeting.
For these nations, merely being part of the event is monumental — but the chance to face legendary teams makes it even more memorable.
Knockout stage possibilities: Messi vs Ronaldo? Germany vs France?
If group results go roughly as expected, the knockout rounds could feature some unbelievable matchups.
A potential Germany vs France clash looms in the round of 16, offering a rematch of their intense 2014 quarter-final.
Even bigger? A possible Messi vs Ronaldo showdown in the quarter-finals — a meeting that would likely mark their final World Cup duel. It would be one of the most iconic fixtures in football history if both teams win their groups and progress.
England could face a third-placed team early on if they top their group, while Scotland could meet Japan or Tunisia in their first-ever knockout match if they win theirs.
Final thoughts
The 2026 World Cup draw brought music, spectacle, surprises, nostalgia — and a lot of anticipation. Whether you’re following Haaland and Mbappé’s rivalry, rooting for debut nations, or hoping for a legendary Messi-Ronaldo meeting, next summer’s tournament promises drama from the very first whistle.
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