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The upcoming global tournament is at last starting to feel tangible. Although supporters can finally start planning their schedules, Friday's ceremony in the US capital was full of major talking points.

Long before the Village People took to the stage with YMCA, we were left picking the bones out of a opening round featuring a showdown between football's top strikers and a playoff bracket promising a truly mouthwatering encounter between two greats of the sport.

The Ceremony That Seemed Like It May Never End

Many people logged on keen to discover their team's initial opponents. However, despite the fact supporters are used to these draws taking some time, this one set a new standard.

Following performances by Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger, speeches from political leaders and football's governing body, plus numerous video packages and discussions, it finally seemed to get going almost 60 minutes later. Or so we thought.

This led to more interviews and entertainment, before the actual draw eventually began nearly an hour and a half after the glitzy event initially started. The draw itself then took 59 minutes to complete.

On to the Football Itself...

The upcoming tournament will be the largest in history, with a unprecedented number of nations and a new round of 32. However, this expansion has perhaps led to the initial phase being slightly diluted in overall strength.

There are very few matches between the major nations. England's match with their 2018 semi-final opponents is the biggest on paper. That is the only group fixture with two teams inside the world's elite.

Brazil 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 easiest on paper. But, compelling contests remain.

A Pair of Goal Machines Go Head-to-Head

Phenomenal striker Erling Haaland will get a crack at his major international competition next summer. The Premier League striker scored 16 times in eight matches to single-handedly carry his country to their first appearance since 1998.

Hardly any have been able to rival the 25-year-old's ridiculous goalscoring feats—except for one player is set to come up against him in the last match of group games. Together with Senegal, Norway have been drawn against the French superstar's Les Bleus.

This means the leading scorers in the Premier League and La Liga will go head-to-head for the first time in international football. Anticipate goals. Plenty of scoring.

We Meet Again

Mexico will face Bafana Bafana in the opening match—and not for the first time. The sides also kicked off the 2010 edition. That match, which finished 1-1, is most famous for a rasping second-half strike.

Another notable fixture will see the French once more face the Senegalese, who stunned the reigning title-holders back in 2002. On that first day, a future Fulham midfielder outshone France's cast of star names to score the winning goal.

Fantasy Fixtures for the Debutants

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have benefited from the larger World Cup to qualify for the finals for the first time. However, standing in their way are past winners, European champions and Copa America winners.

In one group, the tiny Caribbean island, the smallest nation to ever play at a World Cup, will meet multiple winners Germany. The island nation, with a resident count of around half a million, will face Euro winners and former champions Spain.

Jordan, after 40 years of trying, will face title-holders La Albiceleste and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be guided by a 2006 World Cup winner against the Portuguese icon's Selecao das Quinas.

And Then Comes the Knockout Stage?

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

On the other side of the bracket, eyes will be fixed on the last eight, where historic adversaries the Argentine and the Portuguese are set for a potential showdown. It would depend on both Argentina and Portugal 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. Should the Scots are able to get through, Japan or the Dutch could be waiting in what would be their first ever World Cup knockout fixture.