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The upcoming global tournament is at last starting to feel tangible. While supporters can finally start planning their schedules, Friday's ceremony in Washington DC was not short of significant headlines.

Long before the Village People performed with their classic hit, observers were picking the bones out of a opening round that includes a clash between football's top forwards and a knockout stage that could produce a truly mouthwatering meeting between two greats of the game.

The Draw That Felt Like It Would Go On Forever

Many people logged on keen to discover their team's group stage fixtures. However, even though fans are used to such ceremonies taking some time, this was extraordinary.

Following performances by Robbie Williams and a former Pussycat Doll, addresses from dignitaries and football's governing body, plus numerous montages and discussions, it eventually appeared to begin almost 60 minutes later. That was an illusion.

This led to more interviews and performances, before the real selection process finally commenced nearly an hour and a half after the star-studded show first kicked off. The draw itself then required almost an hour to complete.

On to the Actual Football...

Next summer's tournament will be the biggest in history, with a record 48 teams and a new round of 32. However, this increase in size has perhaps led to the initial phase being slightly diluted in quality.

There are hardly any fixtures between the major nations. England's game against their 2018 semi-final opponents is the biggest theoretically. That is the sole opening-round game featuring two teams inside the world's elite.

Brazil versus The Atlas Lions is the second most intriguing. The Dutch have the most difficult draw by Fifa world rankings, while Germany—grouped with Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao—have the weakest. Nevertheless, interesting matches remain.

Two Goal Machines Face Off

Generational goalgetter Erling Haaland will make his debut in his first major tournament next summer. The Premier League striker scored 16 times in qualifying matches to drag his nation to their initial berth since 1998.

Few have managed to come close to the 25-year-old's ridiculous scoring records—except for one player is set to come up against him in the final round of the group stage. Together with The Lions of Teranga, The Nordic side have been paired with the French superstar's Les Bleus.

This means the top marksmen in the Premier League and La Liga will clash for the initial occasion in on the global stage. Expect goals. Lots of goals.

We Meet Again

El Tri will face Bafana Bafana in the first game—and not for the first time. The sides also kicked off the tournament in South Africa. That game, ending 1-1, is most famous for a rasping goal.

Another eye-catching group game will see the French once more face the Senegalese, who stunned the reigning title-holders back in the 2002 World Cup. On that opening night, a then-unknown player outshone France's cast of star names to score the decisive goal.

Dream Ties for the Debutants

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have benefited from the expanded World Cup to qualify for the tournament for the first time. But, standing in their way are former world champions, European champions and South American champions.

In one group, the tiny Caribbean island, the least populous country to ever play at a World Cup, will meet four-time winners Germany. Cape Verde, with a population of around half a million, will face European champions and former champions La Roja.

The Middle Eastern side, after decades of trying, will face title-holders La Albiceleste and Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be guided by a 2006 World Cup winner against the Portuguese icon's Portugal.

What About the Playoff Rounds?

Assuming all the top teams make it safely through their groups, we shouldn't have to wait for the heavyweights to meet. The last 16 is where things could get really tasty, most notably with a potential tie between past winners the Germans and the French.

On the other side of the bracket, eyes will be fixed on the quarter-final stage, where old rivals the Argentine and Ronaldo are lined up for a potential showdown. It would require both Argentina and Portugal finishing top and squeezing through the early knockout rounds.

For England, a game against tournament hosts seems the most likely last-32 tie. Should the Scots are able to get through, Japan or the Dutch could await in what would be their historic World Cup playoff match.