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The upcoming World Cup is at last starting to feel tangible. While fans can finally start marking their calendars, Friday's draw in Washington DC was not short of significant headlines.

Long before the Village People took to the stage with their classic hit, observers were picking the bones out of 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 Felt Like It May Never End

Many people tuned in eager to find out their team's initial opponents. However, despite the fact fans are used to these draws taking some time, this one set a new standard.

Following performances by a pop star and Nicole Scherzinger, speeches from dignitaries and Fifa officials, plus countless montages and interviews, it eventually appeared to get going nearly an hour later. That was an illusion.

This led to further commentary and entertainment, before the actual draw eventually began around 90 minutes after the star-studded show initially started. The draw itself then took 59 minutes to complete.

Moving On to the Actual Football...

Next summer's tournament will be the biggest in the competition's history, with a record 48 teams and a first-ever additional knockout round. Yet, this increase in size has perhaps led to the group stage being slightly diluted in quality.

There are very few matches between the major nations. England's match with Croatia is the most significant theoretically. That is the sole opening-round game featuring two teams inside the world's elite.

The Selecao versus Morocco is the second most intriguing. The Netherlands have the most difficult draw by Fifa world rankings, while Die Mannschaft—drawn against less-fancied opponents—have the easiest on paper. Nevertheless, interesting matches still await.

Two Goal Machines Go Head-to-Head

Phenomenal striker Erling Haaland will make his debut in his first major tournament next summer. The Manchester City striker scored 16 times in qualifying matches to drag his nation to their initial berth since 1998.

Few have been able to rival the 25-year-old's ridiculous scoring records—except for one player is set to come up against him in the last match of the group stage. Together with Senegal, The Nordic side have been drawn against the French superstar's France.

This means the top marksmen in the English top flight and Spain's division will clash for the initial occasion in on the global stage. Expect net-bulgers. Lots of goals.

We Meet Again

Mexico will take on South Africa in the first game—and not for the first time. The two teams also kicked off the tournament in South Africa. That game, which finished 1-1, is best remembered for a thunderous second-half strike.

Another eye-catching group game will see France again come up against Senegal, who stunned 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 decisive goal.

Dream Ties for the Debutants

Four new nations have benefited from the expanded World Cup to qualify for the tournament for the first occasion. However, standing in their way are past winners, continental title-holders and South American champions.

In one group, Curacao, the smallest nation to ever play at a World Cup, will take on four-time winners Die Mannschaft. Cape Verde, with a resident count of around half a million, will face Euro winners and former champions La Roja.

Jordan, after decades of trying, meets defending champions La Albiceleste and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be led by a 2006 World Cup winner against Cristiano Ronaldo's Selecao das Quinas.

And Then Comes the Playoff Rounds?

If all the favorites progress from their groups, we shouldn't have to wait for the heavyweights to collide. The round of 32 is where things could get extremely interesting, most notably with a possible matchup between former champions Germany and France.

On the opposite half of the bracket, eyes will be fixed on the last eight, where old rivals the Argentine and the Portuguese are set for a potential clash. It would depend on both Messi's team and Ronaldo's side winning their groups and squeezing through the initial playoffs.

Regarding the Three Lions, a game against co-hosts Mexico seems the most likely last-32 tie. And, if the Scots progress, Japan or the Netherlands could be waiting in what would be their first ever World Cup knockout fixture.