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The upcoming global tournament is finally starting to feel tangible. Although supporters can finally start planning their schedules, Friday's draw in Washington DC was not short of major talking points.

Long before the Village People performed with their classic hit, observers were analyzing a group stage featuring a showdown between football's top strikers and a playoff bracket that could produce a highly anticipated encounter between legends of the game.

The Ceremony That Seemed Like It Would Go On Forever

Numerous viewers logged on keen to discover their national side's initial opponents. But, even though fans are accustomed to such ceremonies being lengthy, this one set a new standard.

Following acts by Robbie Williams and a former Pussycat Doll, addresses from dignitaries and Fifa officials, plus numerous montages and discussions, it finally seemed to begin almost 60 minutes later. That was an illusion.

This led to more interviews and performances, before the actual draw eventually began nearly an hour and a half after the glitzy event first kicked off. The selection then took 59 minutes to complete.

On to the Football Itself...

Next summer's World Cup will be the biggest in history, with a unprecedented number of nations and a first-ever additional knockout round. However, this expansion has maybe resulted in the group stage being somewhat weakened in quality.

There are hardly any fixtures between the traditional powerhouses. The Three Lions' game against their 2018 semi-final opponents is the most significant theoretically. That is the sole opening-round game with two teams ranked in the top 10.

The Selecao versus Morocco is the second most intriguing. The Netherlands have the toughest group by Fifa world rankings, while Germany—grouped with less-fancied opponents—have the weakest. But, interesting matches remain.

Two Goal Machines Go Head-to-Head

Phenomenal striker Norway's star will make his debut in his first major tournament in the upcoming finals. The Premier League striker netted 16 goals in qualifying matches to single-handedly carry his nation to their first appearance since 1998.

Few have managed to rival the youngster's incredible goalscoring feats—except for one player is scheduled to face him in the last match of group games. Together with Senegal, The Nordic side have been drawn against Kylian Mbappe's Les Bleus.

This means the top marksmen in the English top flight and La Liga will go head-to-head for the initial occasion in international football. Expect goals. Plenty of scoring.

A Familiar Foe

Mexico will face South Africa in the first game—repeating history. The sides also opened the 2010 edition. That match, which finished 1-1, is best remembered for a thunderous second-half strike.

Another notable fixture will see the French once more face the Senegalese, who shocked the reigning title-holders back in 2002. On that opening night, a then-unknown player upstaged France's cast of star names to score the winning goal.

Dream Ties for the First-Timers

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have benefited from the larger World Cup to qualify for the finals for the first time. However, awaiting them are former world champions, European champions and Copa America winners.

In one group, the tiny Caribbean island, the least populous country to ever feature in a World Cup, will meet multiple winners Die Mannschaft. The island nation, with a population of around half a million, will face European champions and former champions Spain.

The Middle Eastern side, after decades of trying, meets title-holders La Albiceleste and Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be guided by a former champion against the Portuguese icon's Selecao das Quinas.

And Then Comes the Playoff Rounds?

If all the favorites progress from their groups, fans may not wait long for the big hitters to collide. The last 16 is where things could get really tasty, most notably with a possible matchup between former champions Germany and the French.

On the opposite half of the bracket, eyes will be drawn to the last eight, where old rivals Messi and the Portuguese are set for a possible showdown. It would depend on both Messi's team and Portugal winning their groups and squeezing through the early knockout rounds.

Regarding the Three Lions, a game against tournament hosts seems the most likely last-32 tie. And, if the Scots are able to get through, Samurai Blue or the Netherlands could await in what would be their historic World Cup knockout fixture.