Will it be Mohamed Salah or Sadio Mane? Italy or Portugal – or indeed neither? Can Canada end their long wait, and are the United States and Australia at risk of missing out?
Those questions and plenty more are set to be answered over the next week or so as World Cup qualifying concludes for many nations.
Just 15 of the 32 participants have so far been confirmed for Qatar 2022, leaving 48 teams battling for the 17 remaining spots.
Fourteen more countries will be assured of a finals berth come the end of next week in what is very much crunch time for those still in contention.
Stats Perform looks at the key talking points.
Egypt seeking revenge in AFCON final repeat
Less than two months on from meeting in the Africa Cup of Nations final, Egypt and Senegal face off over two legs for a place in Qatar.
Senegal prevailed in a penalty shoot-out to claim their first AFCON crown and, buoyed by that triumph, will consider themselves as favourites here.
While both teams boast an array of top-class talent, this fixture is being billed as a showdown between Liverpool team-mates Salah and Mane.
The two biggest stars in African football, only one of the pair will be part of the World Cup later this year – and neither will fancy watching it all unfold from home.
This is not the only grudge match taking place in the CAF section over the next week and a half, as fierce rivals Ghana and Nigeria will also face off in a two-legged play-off.
Cameroon are up against Algeria, Mali take on Tunisia and DR Congo meet Morocco in the other three ties, each of which will be concluded on March 29.
European heavyweights on collision course
Since the play-off draw in the UEFA section took place in November, all talk has centered around a potential meeting between Italy and Portugal for a place in the finals.
The winners of the past two European Championships, either the Azzurri or the Selecao will miss out on the biggest tournament of them all.
It should never have been this way, of course, as both teams were strong favourites to finish top of their groups and qualify automatically.
Italy finished second to Switzerland and Portugal were runners-up to Serbia, meaning the sides must now come through two qualifying ties.
First up for the reigning European champions is a meeting with North Macedonia in Palermo, while Portugal face Turkey in Porto, with the winners of both ties advancing.
Should, as expected, Italy and Portugal come through those semi-finals, the latter will have the advantage of staging the final on home soil five days later.
For Portugal skipper Cristiano Ronaldo, it presents what will surely be his last chance to play at a record-equalling fifth World Cup.
Pathways impacted by political events
Path C of UEFA qualifying is undoubtedly the most eye-catching, but there are also some tasty fixtures in the other two sections – not least a possible Home Nations derby.
Scotland and Wales were kept apart in the Path B semi-finals but could meet in the final should they overcome Ukraine and Austria respectively.
However, due to ongoing events in Ukraine, their game against Scotland has been pushed back – likely until June – as has the final involving either Wales or Austria.
In Path C, Russia had been due to face Poland, but the invasion of Ukraine forced FIFA and UEFA's hand and they have been banned from competing.
Poland have therefore been handed a bye to the qualifying play-off final, where either Sweden or the Czech Republic await. That match will be contested next week as planned.
Canada on verge of ending long wait, USA with work to do
The United States qualified for every World Cup between 1990 and 2014, but they missed out on a place at Russia 2018 after an embarrassing loss to Trinidad and Tobago.
Gregg Berhalter's side are by no means assured of one of the three automatic qualification spots in the CONCACAF section this time around, either.
USA sit second with three games to go, but they still have to travel to third-placed Mexico, as well as facing Panama and Costa Rica, who occupy fourth and fifth respectively.
Level on points with Mexico and four ahead of Costa Rica, it could be a tense finale to qualifying for the Stars and Stripes.
That should not be the case for Canada, who are eight points clear of fourth and are all but assured of ending their 36-year wait to make a second World Cup finals appearance.
Brazil and Argentina through, but who will join them?
The drawn-out South American qualifiers are nearing their conclusion and only four of the 10 sides know their fate at this juncture.
It has been plain sailing for Brazil and Argentina, who are assured of an automatic qualifying spot with three games to go, including a rescheduled meeting between the pair.
Behind those perennial World Cup representatives are Ecuador, who have been the surprise package in qualifying and can finish no lower than fifth.
Ecuador will not be content with anything other than a top-four finish, though, and they can make certain of that with victory over Paraguay.
Assuming Ecuador get over the line, that will leave Uruguay, Peru, Chile, Colombia and Bolivia battling it out for progression, which sets up some intriguing fixtures.
Uruguay occupy fourth place, meaning their qualifying aspirations are in their own hands, but they have Peru and Chile – the two sides behind them – still to face.
Socceroos sweating on finals spot
Only four teams advance automatically from the CONMEBOL section, with the team in fifth entering a play-off against the winner of the AFC fourth round in a one-off tie in June.
That may well turn out to be Australia as the Socceroos are five and four points behind top two Saudi Arabia and Japan in Group B with two games to go.
However, those remaining two fixtures are against those nations occupying automatic qualification places, so Australia may yet sneak through.
Iran and South Korea have already made certain of progression in Group A, meanwhile, leaving the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon and Iraq to compete for third place.
The two third-placed finishers – which, as it stands, are Australia and the UAE – will meet in a one-legged match ahead of that aforementioned play-off with a CONMEBOL side.
Israel 0-2 Italy: Frattesi and Kean keep Azzurri perfect
Davide Frattesi continued his hot streak under Luciano Spalletti as his first-half strike helped Italy on their way to a 2-1 win over Israel in the Nations League.
Moise Kean netted his fifth international goal to double the Azzurri's advantage after the break, with substitute Mohamed Abu Fani scoring a late consolation for the hosts.
Despite a bright start from Israel, the visitors regained control of the contest as Alessandro Bastoni and Federico Dimarco threatened in the wide positions.
But a familiar face found himself on the scoresheet once again, with Frattesi netting his sixth goal under Spalletti's stewardship with a delicate chested finish from Dimarco's delivery.
Italy's dominance continued in the second half and was rewarded in the 62nd minute when Giacomo Raspadori's effort was saved by Yoav Gerafi, only for Kean to smash home the rebound.
Israel, however, threatened a nervy conclusion to proceedings as Italy's failure to clear a corner was punished by Abu Fani with a fine finish from the edge of the area, but the Azzurri were able to hold on for the victory.
Data Debrief: Young Italians take centre stage
Italy fielded five starting players born since 2000 for the first time in their history in Samuele Ricci, Raspadori, Sandro Tonali, Kean and Raoul Bellanova.
Kean registered an expected goals (xG) total of 0.56 to Italy's 1.56 total, recording the most shots (three) and touches in the opposition box (seven) for the Azzurri.
Nagelsmann sticking to winning Nations League formula against Netherlands
Continuity is key for Julian Nagelsmann, as the Germany head coach revealed he would make minimal changes for their Nations League encounter with the Netherlands.
Nagelsmann, who watched on as his side swept aside Hungary 5-0 last week, confirmed he will be without Euro 2024 hero Niclas Fullkrug, though.
The 31-year-old scored two goals at the European Championships and was again on target for the Nationalelf in their Nations League opener.
Fullkrug was replaced in the 60th minute by Maximilian Beier, registering an expected goals (xG) tally of 1.11 to Germany's 3.71 total against Hungary.
However, Nagelsmann confirmed the West Ham United striker suffered an Achilles tendon injury that will rule him out of Tuesday's fixture in Amsterdam.
"It is not yet clear whether he can play," Nagelsmann said ahead of kick-off, but revealed he would not be making wholesale changes from their 5-0 win over Hungary.
“We are not thinking about changing much," Nagelsmann said.
"There are certainly things we can do similarly. But it is a different opponent with a different style of play."
Germany's win over Hungary also marked their first encounter without a number of their recent heroes following their retirement after Euro 2024.
Ilkay Gundogan, Toni Kroos, Thomas Muller and Manuel Neuer, who have 451 caps between them, hung up their boots after their run to quarter-finals in their home tournament.
It offered the opportunity for players to stake a claim in the first-team squad, none more so than Barcelona's Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Ter Stegen made 41 appearances for his country but has been second choice to Neuer at major tournaments, and the 32-year-old returned to the international stage with a clean sheet, albeit only facing one shot on target against Hungary.
"Marc played a very good game against Hungary," Nagelsmann said.
"He is a very important player for us because he has been with Barcelona for years and has a responsible position there as captain."
Although in March, Nagelsmann had told Ter Stegen it would be Neuer who would start at the European Championships, despite missing 21 games for club and country with injury.
"The conversation wasn't particularly pleasant. Marc took it well and accepted the decision," Nagelsmann said.
"But I was briefly concerned that he would say I'm not going along with it. That would have been a shame."
Koeman insists Depay has Netherlands future after Corinthians move
Ronald Koeman said there is still a place in the Netherlands team for Memphis Depay after reportedly agreeing a deal with Brazilian giants, Corinthians.
Depay, who has 98 appearances for his country since his debut in 2013, was not picked for the Oranje's Nations League fixtures against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Germany this month.
The 30-year-old started all six of the Netherlands' fixtures at Euro 2024, scoring against Austria and notching an assist in their quarter-final win over Turkiye.
He struggled with injuries during his final season at Atletico Madrid, missing 18 games in all competitions, but still managed nine goals in 31 appearances.
But Koeman's comments come after denouncing the move of Steven Bergwijn to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad, saying his decision to move to the Middle East had closed the book on his international career.
“I disapproved Bergwijn to Saudi, with Memphis it can be different," Koeman said.
"The level of the league in Brazil is different, so yes, he can still be part of the national team, but it depends on his fitness and if he reaches his level.”
Koeman's side will be hoping to maintain their winning start to their Nations League campaign against Germany in Amsterdam on Tuesday.
The Netherlands put five past Bosnia last week, with Joshua Zirkzee, Tijjani Reijnders, Cody Gakpo, Wout Weghorst and Xavi Simons all on target.
Despite registering 28 shots, with nine of those on target, along with an expected goals (xG) total of 4.09, two lapses in concentration from Matthijs de Ligt were punished by Bosnia.
Ermedin Demirovic capitalised on some poor positioning by the Manchester United defender, who was then caught ball-watching as veteran Edin Dzeko capitalised.
But Koeman again jumped to the defence of the 25-year-old, confirming that De Ligt would be starting against Germany.
"We have discussed it," Koeman said. "He did not get his footwork right. It was a bad individual moment for a defender.
"You have to learn from that, it is clear that these kinds of moments need to be improved. But we should not be dramatic about it and put too much emphasis on it."
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