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Next summer's global tournament is finally starting to feel very real. Although supporters are now able to begin marking their calendars, Friday's ceremony in Washington DC was full of major talking points.

Long before the Village People performed with YMCA, we were left analyzing a opening round featuring a clash between football's top strikers and a playoff bracket promising a highly anticipated encounter between legends of the sport.

The Draw That Felt Like It May Never End

Numerous viewers logged on keen to find out their team's initial opponents. But, despite the fact supporters are used to these draws taking some time, this one set a new standard.

After performances by a pop star and a former Pussycat Doll, addresses from political leaders and football's governing body, plus numerous montages and interviews, it eventually appeared to begin almost 60 minutes later. That was an illusion.

Cue further commentary and entertainment, before the real selection process finally commenced around 90 minutes after the glitzy event initially started. The draw itself then required almost an hour to complete.

On to the Actual Football...

Next summer's tournament will be the largest in history, with a record 48 teams and a first-ever additional knockout round. However, this increase in size has maybe resulted in the initial phase being somewhat weakened in overall strength.

There are hardly any matches between the traditional powerhouses. England's game against Croatia is the biggest theoretically. That is the only group fixture featuring two teams inside the world's elite.

The Selecao versus Morocco is the next best. The Netherlands have the toughest group by Fifa world rankings, while Die Mannschaft—grouped with Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao—have the easiest on paper. Nevertheless, interesting matches remain.

Two Goal Machines Go Head-to-Head

Generational goalgetter Erling Haaland will make his debut in his major international competition next summer. The Premier League striker scored 16 times in qualifying matches to drag his country to their initial berth since 1998.

Few have been able to rival the 25-year-old's ridiculous scoring records—but someone who has is scheduled to face him in the final round of group games. Along with Senegal, The Nordic side have been paired with Kylian Mbappe's France.

This means the top marksmen in the Premier League and Spain's division will go head-to-head for the first time in on the global stage. Anticipate net-bulgers. Lots of goals.

A Familiar Foe

Mexico will face Bafana Bafana in the opening match—repeating history. The two teams also opened the 2010 edition. That match, which finished 1-1, is best remembered for a thunderous second-half strike.

Another eye-catching fixture will see France once more face Senegal, who shocked the reigning title-holders back in the 2002 World Cup. On that opening night, a then-unknown player upstaged France's cast of star names to score the decisive goal.

Fantasy Fixtures for the First-Timers

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have benefited from the larger World Cup to qualify for the tournament 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 take on four-time winners Germany. Cape Verde, with a resident count of around half a million, will face Euro winners 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, 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?

Assuming all the top teams progress from their groups, fans may not wait long for the big hitters to collide. The round of 32 is where things could get really tasty, most notably with a possible matchup between former champions Germany and the French.

On the other side of the bracket, eyes will be fixed on the last eight, where old rivals the Argentine and Ronaldo are lined up for a possible clash. It would depend on both Argentina and Portugal winning their groups and navigating the initial playoffs.

Regarding the Three Lions, a game against tournament hosts seems the probable first knockout game. Should Scotland progress, Samurai Blue or the Dutch could be waiting in what would be their historic World Cup playoff match.