The draw for the 48-team World Cup concluded in Washington DC, though not before a marathon ceremony that took over an hour and a half to begin.
The biggest fixture confirmed is a generational clash in Group I: Erling Haaland’s Norway will face Kylian Mbappé’s France.
This battle between the top goalscorers of the Premier League and La Liga is highly anticipated.
Key Matches & Group Facts:
- England starts its campaign against Croatia (a 2018 semi-final repeat), the only Group Stage match featuring two Top 10 ranked teams.
- Mexico will open the tournament against South Africa in the Estadio Azteca.
- The expanded tournament welcomes four debutants, including Curaçao (facing Germany) and Jordan (facing Argentina and Messi).
- Knockout Stage Potential: A Last 16 tie between Germany and France is possible, as is a potential Quarter-Final clash between rivals Lionel Messi’s Argentina and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.
