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Next summer's global tournament is at last beginning to seem tangible. While fans can finally start marking their calendars, Friday's draw in Washington DC was not short of major talking points.

Well before the iconic group took to the stage with YMCA, we were left analyzing a opening round featuring a clash between football's top strikers and a playoff bracket promising a truly mouthwatering encounter between two greats of the game.

The Ceremony That Felt Like It Would Go On Forever

Numerous viewers tuned in keen to find out their team's group stage fixtures. But, even though supporters are used to these draws being lengthy, this was extraordinary.

Following performances by Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger, speeches from political leaders and Fifa officials, plus countless montages and discussions, it eventually appeared to get going almost 60 minutes later. Or so we thought.

Cue more interviews and performances, before the real selection process eventually began around 90 minutes after the star-studded show first kicked off. The selection then took 59 minutes to finish.

On to the Actual Football...

Next summer's World Cup will be the biggest in history, with a unprecedented number of nations and a new round of 32. However, this expansion has perhaps led to the group stage being somewhat weakened in overall strength.

There are very few matches between the major nations. England's match with Croatia is the most significant theoretically. That is the sole opening-round game featuring two teams inside the world's elite.

Brazil versus Morocco is the second most intriguing. The Netherlands have the toughest group by official standings, while Die Mannschaft—grouped with less-fancied opponents—have the weakest. But, interesting matches still await.

A Pair of Prolific Scorers Go Head-to-Head

Generational goalgetter Erling Haaland will get a crack at his first major tournament in the upcoming finals. The Premier League forward scored 16 times in qualifying matches to drag his country to their initial berth since 1998.

Hardly any have managed to come close to the youngster's incredible scoring records—except for one player is scheduled to come up against him in the final round of group games. Together with The Lions of Teranga, The Nordic side have been drawn against the French superstar's France.

This means the leading scorers in the Premier League and Spain's division will go head-to-head for the initial occasion in international football. Anticipate net-bulgers. Plenty of scoring.

A Familiar Foe

El Tri will face Bafana Bafana in the opening match—and not for the first time. The two teams also opened the tournament in South Africa. That match, which finished 1-1, is most famous for a rasping goal.

Another eye-catching fixture will see the French again come up against the Senegalese, who stunned the reigning title-holders back in the 2002 World Cup. On that opening night, a future Fulham midfielder upstaged France's galaxy of stars to score the winning goal.

Fantasy Fixtures for the Debutants

Four new nations have taken advantage of the expanded World Cup to qualify for the tournament for the first time. However, awaiting them are former world champions, continental title-holders and Copa America winners.

In one group, the tiny Caribbean island, the least populous country to ever play at a World Cup, will meet multiple winners Germany. Cape Verde, with a population of around 600,000, will face Euro winners and former champions La Roja.

The Middle Eastern side, after decades of trying, will face defending champions Argentina and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be guided by a former champion against the Portuguese icon's Portugal.

And Then Comes the Knockout Stage?

If all the favorites make it safely through their groups, fans may not wait long for the big hitters to collide. The last 16 is where things could get extremely interesting, most notably with a possible matchup between former champions the Germans and France.

On the opposite half of the draw, eyes will be drawn to the last eight, where old rivals Messi and the Portuguese are lined up for a possible showdown. It would require both Messi's team and Portugal finishing top and squeezing through the early knockout rounds.

Regarding the Three Lions, a game against co-hosts Mexico seems the probable last-32 tie. Should the Scots are able to get through, Japan or the Netherlands could await in what would be their first ever World Cup playoff match.