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The upcoming global tournament is at last beginning to seem very real. While supporters can finally start planning their schedules, the recent ceremony in the US capital was not short of significant headlines.

Long before the Village People took to the stage with their classic hit, we were left picking the bones out of a group stage that includes a showdown between football's top forwards and a playoff bracket promising a truly mouthwatering meeting between legends of the game.

The Draw That Seemed Like It Would Go On Forever

Many people logged on keen to find out their team's initial opponents. However, even though fans are used to these draws taking some time, this was extraordinary.

Following performances by a pop star and a former Pussycat Doll, addresses from dignitaries and football's governing body, plus countless montages and interviews, it eventually appeared to get going nearly an hour later. That was an illusion.

Cue more interviews and entertainment, before the actual draw finally commenced around 90 minutes after the star-studded show initially started. The draw itself then took 59 minutes to finish.

Moving On to the Actual Football...

The upcoming World Cup will be the biggest in the competition's history, with a unprecedented number of nations and a new round of 32. Yet, this increase in size has perhaps led to the group stage being slightly diluted in quality.

There are very few fixtures between the major nations. England's match with their 2018 semi-final opponents is the biggest theoretically. That is the only group fixture with two teams ranked in the top 10.

The Selecao versus Morocco is the next best. The Dutch have the most difficult draw by official standings, while Die Mannschaft—grouped with Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao—have the weakest. Nevertheless, interesting matches remain.

Two Prolific Scorers Face Off

Generational goalgetter Erling Haaland will make his debut in his major international competition next summer. The Manchester City forward scored 16 times in eight matches to drag his country to their first appearance since 1998.

Few have been able to come close to the youngster's ridiculous scoring records—except for one player is set to face him in the last match of group games. Along with Senegal, Norway have been paired with the French superstar's Les Bleus.

This means the leading scorers in the English top flight and Spain's division will go head-to-head for the initial occasion in on the global stage. Anticipate goals. Plenty of scoring.

A Familiar Foe

Mexico will take on Bafana Bafana in the opening match—repeating history. The sides also opened the tournament in South Africa. That match, which finished 1-1, is best remembered for a rasping second-half strike.

Another eye-catching fixture will see France once more face Senegal, who shocked the then-world champions back in the 2002 World Cup. On that first day, a then-unknown player outshone France's galaxy of stars to score the winning goal.

Fantasy Fixtures for the Debutants

Four new nations have taken advantage of 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 four-time winners Germany. Cape Verde, with a population of around 600,000, will face European champions and former champions La Roja.

The Middle Eastern side, after 40 years of trying, will face title-holders La Albiceleste and Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be guided by a former champion against Cristiano Ronaldo's Selecao das Quinas.

What About the Playoff Rounds?

Assuming all the top teams progress from their groups, fans may not wait long for the heavyweights to collide. The last 16 is where things could get extremely interesting, most notably with a potential tie between former champions the Germans and the French.

On the opposite half of the bracket, eyes will be fixed on the quarter-final stage, where old rivals the Argentine and the Portuguese are set for a possible showdown. It would depend on both Argentina and Portugal finishing top and navigating the initial playoffs.

For England, a match with tournament hosts seems the most likely last-32 tie. Should Scotland are able to get through, Japan or the Netherlands could await in what would be their historic World Cup knockout fixture.