From The Telegraph:

 

The draw is estimated to take two-and-a-half hours, and wiill feature a variety of local entertainment, such as Sao Paulo’s Companhia de Danca, who do neat things like this:

 

 

The World Cup draw is a pretty big deal these days. Four years ago, for example, this was the scene at the International Convention Centre in Cape Town.

 

 

The draw ceremony for the last World Cup was presented by Charlize Theron, with the draw itself being carried out by stars including David Beckham and Haile Gebrselassie. Nelson Mandela gave a speech via video link. An estimated 200 million people around the world watched on television.

 

Because of the threat of protests, and the large number of foreign dignitaries attending, the security operation is expected to be one of the biggest in Brazil’s history.

 

<noframes>Interactive chart: Security for the World Cup draw</noframes>

 

A 45-mile security cordon is in place, preventing the public from getting anywhere near the compound. Meanwhile, 3,600 armed guards have been deployed to look after the 4,800 guests. That’s three guards for every four guests.

 

It wasn’t always like this. Behold, the charmingly low-rent draw for the 1938 World Cup in France!

 

 

Back in those days, all you needed was an old white-haired dude (Jules Rimet, the first president of Fifa), his adorable grandson Yves (still alive and in his 80s), a large glass jar (Robert Dyas, £2.99) and a man who appears to be possessed by evil spirits.

 

In fact, the entire 1934 World Cup in Italy cost less than this Friday’s draw.

 

<noframes>Interactive chart: Budget ($) for…</noframes>

 

Yes, you read that right. Even when you adjust for inflation, the budget for this World Cup draw is more than three times bigger than the budget for an entire World Cup ‘back in the day’.

 

How did it become so big? Well, there are a lot more teams in the World Cup than there used to be.

 

 

There are 32 teams at this World Cup. There are plans to increase the next one in 2018 to 40 teams. By the 2050 World Cup, at the current rate of increase, Fifa will actually have to start inventing new countries in order to satisfy demand. Anybody who knows Fifa will be aware that this cannot entirely be ruled out.

 

But does bigger mean better? Not necessarily. More teams means more boring football.

 

Let’s put this in simple terms. The more teams you invite to your World Cup, the more bad teams there are. When a bad team plays a good team, their first instinct is to defend. Defensive play was particularly prevalent at the last World Cup, which was in every respect one of the most disappointing on record.

 

Of course, no discussion of World Cup disappointment would be complete without England.

 

 

If following England at World Cups has taught us anything as a nation, it is the futility of blind optimism. Really, really, really, really wanting something to happen does not make it happen. This is something that English children grasp very early in life.

 

Which may be why the World Cup draw manages to strike a chord. It captures the sheer, futile optimism of the sports fan at its very apex.

 

 

This was The Sun’s front page after England’s World Cup draw four years ago. In the event, England ended up drawing against the USA and Algeria before scraping a 1-0 win against Slovenia. Proof positive that while the World Cup brings nothing but misery and humiliation, at the World Cup draw, hope springs eternal.