The road to the 2026 World Cup has officially begun, not with the blow of a whistle, but with a marathon spectacle in Washington D.C. that tested the world's patience before delivering a blockbuster promise. As the dust settles on a draw that felt more like a variety show than a sporting procedure, the football world has finally been given its marching orders for next summer.

For the Kenyan football faithful, the wait is over. While the ceremony itself was a test of endurance, the outcome has set the stage for a tournament that promises to grip the nation. The groups are set, headlined by a titanic clash between Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé—a fixture that turns the group stages into a must-watch event for every Premier League and Ligue 1 enthusiast in Nairobi.

A Clash of Kings

Long before the Village People took to the stage to close the night with a surreal rendition of YMCA, the headlines had already been written. The draw has pitted two of the game's absolute giants against one another in the group stages: Norway’s goal-machine Erling Haaland and France’s talisman Kylian Mbappé.

For the Kenyan viewer, who has spent years debating the merits of these two superstars in bars from Westlands to Mombasa, this is the dream scenario. It is a direct confrontation between the sheer physical dominance of the Manchester City striker and the blistering pace of the Real Madrid forward. Analysts at BBC Sport rightly identified this as the standout fixture, noting that the knockout stage could produce even more "mouthwatering meetings" between the game's elite.

The Marathon in Washington

If the football promises speed, the ceremony delivered anything but. Viewers tuning in at 8:00 PM EAT were met with a production that seemed reluctant to actually draw any balls. The event, held in the US capital, leaned heavily into American showmanship, often at the expense of pacing.

The timeline of events tested even the most die-hard fans:

• The Delay: Despite a scheduled start, the actual draw process did not commence until nearly an hour after the broadcast began.
• The Star Power: Performances by Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger filled the gap, alongside speeches from FIFA President Gianni Infantino and US President Donald Trump.
• The Leaders: In a moment of diplomatic theatre, Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney joined President Trump on stage to represent the co-hosts.

BBC Sport described the proceedings as a draw that "went on, and on, and on," a sentiment likely shared by Kenyans watching late into the night, waiting to see where their favorite African teams would land.

Looking to 2026

Despite the bloated runtime and the montage-heavy broadcast, the reality of the tournament is now tangible. Next summer, the World Cup returns, bringing with it the sleepless nights and collective euphoria that only football can generate.

As we look toward the kickoff, the narrative has shifted from the glitz of Washington to the grass of North America. The fixtures are in the calendar, the rivalries are ignited, and for fans across Kenya, the countdown has officially begun.