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Next summer's global tournament is at last starting to feel very real. Although supporters can finally start planning their schedules, Friday's ceremony in Washington DC was full of significant headlines.

Well before the Village People performed with YMCA, observers were picking the bones out of a group stage that includes a showdown between football's top strikers and a knockout stage that could produce a highly anticipated encounter between two greats of the game.

The Draw That Felt Like It May Never End

Numerous viewers tuned in keen to find out their team's group stage fixtures. However, even though fans are used to such ceremonies being lengthy, this one set a new standard.

After performances by a pop star and Nicole Scherzinger, addresses from political leaders and football's governing body, plus countless montages and interviews, it eventually appeared to begin almost 60 minutes later. Or so we thought.

This led to further commentary and performances, before the real selection process eventually began around 90 minutes after the star-studded show first kicked off. The draw itself then took 59 minutes to complete.

Moving On to the Actual Football...

Next summer's World Cup will be the largest in history, with a unprecedented number of nations and a new round of 32. However, this increase in size has perhaps led to the initial phase being somewhat weakened in overall strength.

There are hardly any fixtures between the traditional powerhouses. England's match with their 2018 semi-final opponents is the biggest on paper. That is the only group fixture featuring two teams ranked in the top 10.

The Selecao versus The Atlas Lions is the second most intriguing. The Netherlands have the most difficult draw by Fifa world rankings, while Die Mannschaft—grouped with Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao—have the easiest on paper. Nevertheless, interesting matches still await.

Two Prolific Scorers Face Off

Generational goalgetter Erling Haaland will get a crack at his first major tournament in the upcoming finals. The Premier League striker scored 16 times in eight matches to drag his nation to their first appearance since 1998.

Few have managed to come close to the youngster's incredible scoring records—except for one player is set to come up against him in the last match of group games. Together with The Lions of Teranga, Norway have been drawn against the French superstar's France.

This means the top marksmen in the English top flight and La Liga will go head-to-head for the first time in on the global stage. Anticipate net-bulgers. Lots of goals.

We Meet Again

Mexico will take on Bafana Bafana in the first game—and not for the first time. The sides also opened the 2010 edition. That game, which finished 1-1, is best remembered for a rasping goal.

Another notable fixture will see the French once more face Senegal, who shocked the then-world champions back in the 2002 World Cup. On that opening night, a then-unknown player upstaged France's galaxy of stars to score the winning goal.

Dream Ties for the Debutants

Four new nations have taken advantage of the expanded World Cup to reach the finals for the first time. However, standing in their way are past winners, European champions and South American champions.

In one group, Curacao, the smallest nation to ever feature in a World Cup, will meet multiple winners Germany. Cape Verde, with a population of around half a million, will face European champions and 2010 World Cup winners Spain.

The Middle Eastern side, after decades of trying, will face title-holders La Albiceleste and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be led by a 2006 World Cup winner against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal.

What About the Knockout Stage?

If all the favorites progress from their groups, we shouldn't have to wait for the big hitters to collide. The last 16 is where things could get extremely interesting, most notably with a possible matchup between past winners the Germans and the French.

On the other side of the bracket, eyes will be drawn to the quarter-final stage, where historic adversaries the Argentine and Ronaldo are lined up for a possible showdown. It would require both Argentina and Ronaldo's side winning their groups and navigating 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 first ever World Cup knockout fixture.