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Next summer's global tournament is at last beginning to seem tangible. While fans can finally start marking their calendars, Friday's ceremony in Washington DC was not short of major talking points.

Well before the iconic group took to the stage with YMCA, observers were picking the bones out of a group stage featuring a showdown between two of the world's best forwards and a playoff bracket that could produce a highly anticipated encounter between legends of the sport.

The Draw That Felt Like It Would Go On Forever

Many people tuned in eager to discover their team's group stage fixtures. But, even though supporters are accustomed to these draws taking some time, this one set a new standard.

Following acts by Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger, speeches from dignitaries and Fifa officials, plus countless video packages and discussions, it eventually appeared to get going almost 60 minutes later. Or so we thought.

Cue further commentary and entertainment, before the real selection process eventually began nearly an hour and a half after the glitzy event initially started. The selection then took 59 minutes to finish.

On to the Actual Football...

Next summer's tournament will be the biggest in history, with a record 48 teams and a new round of 32. However, this increase in size has perhaps led to the initial phase being slightly diluted in quality.

There are hardly any fixtures between the major nations. The Three Lions' match with their 2018 semi-final opponents is the biggest on paper. That is the only group fixture with two teams ranked in the top 10.

The Selecao versus The Atlas Lions is the second most intriguing. The Netherlands have the toughest group by Fifa world rankings, while Die Mannschaft—drawn against 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 striker scored 16 times in qualifying matches to drag his country to their initial berth since 1998.

Few have managed to come close to the 25-year-old's incredible goalscoring feats—except for one player is set to face him in the last match of group games. Along with The Lions of Teranga, Norway have been drawn against Kylian Mbappe's Les Bleus.

This means the top marksmen in the English top flight and La Liga will clash for the first time in international football. Expect goals. Plenty of scoring.

We Meet Again

Mexico will take on South Africa in the opening match—repeating history. The sides also opened the 2010 edition. That game, which finished 1-1, is best remembered for a rasping second-half strike.

Another notable fixture will see the French once more face the Senegalese, who shocked the reigning title-holders back in 2002. On that first day, a then-unknown player outshone France's cast of star names to score the decisive goal.

Dream Ties for the Debutants

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have benefited from the expanded World Cup to qualify for the tournament for the first occasion. But, awaiting them are past winners, continental title-holders and South American champions.

In one group, Curacao, the smallest nation to ever feature in a World Cup, will meet four-time winners Germany. Cape Verde, with a resident count of around 600,000, will face Euro winners and former champions La Roja.

The Middle Eastern side, after decades of trying, will face title-holders Argentina and Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be led by a former champion against the Portuguese icon's Portugal.

What About the Playoff Rounds?

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

On the opposite half of the draw, eyes will be drawn to the quarter-final stage, where old rivals the Argentine and Ronaldo are set for a potential showdown. It would require both Messi's team and Ronaldo's side winning their groups and squeezing through the initial playoffs.

For England, a match with tournament hosts seems the most likely first knockout game. And, if the Scots progress, Samurai Blue or the Netherlands could await in what would be their historic World Cup knockout fixture.