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The upcoming global tournament is at last beginning to seem very real. While supporters are now able to begin marking their calendars, the recent draw in Washington DC was full of significant headlines.

Well before the Village People took to the stage with their classic hit, we were left picking the bones out of a opening round featuring a clash between football's top strikers and a knockout stage that could produce a truly mouthwatering meeting between two greats of the game.

The Ceremony That Seemed Like It Would Go On Forever

Many people logged on eager to discover their national side's group stage opponents. But, despite the fact supporters are accustomed to such ceremonies taking some time, this was extraordinary.

After acts by Robbie Williams and a former Pussycat Doll, addresses from political leaders and Fifa officials, plus numerous video packages and discussions, it finally seemed to get going almost 60 minutes later. That was an illusion.

Cue more interviews and entertainment, before the real selection process eventually began nearly an hour and a half after the glitzy event first kicked off. The draw itself then took 59 minutes to finish.

Moving On to the Football Itself...

The upcoming tournament will be the largest in history, with a record 48 teams and a new round of 32. Yet, this increase in size has perhaps led to the group stage being slightly diluted in quality.

There are hardly any matches between the traditional powerhouses. England's match with their 2018 semi-final opponents is the most significant on paper. That is the sole opening-round game with two teams ranked in the top 10.

Brazil versus The Atlas Lions is the second most intriguing. The Dutch have the toughest group by Fifa world rankings, while Die Mannschaft—grouped with Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao—have the weakest. But, compelling contests remain.

Two Prolific Scorers Face Off

Phenomenal striker Erling Haaland will get a crack at his major international competition in the upcoming finals. The Premier League forward netted 16 goals in qualifying matches to drag his country to their initial berth since 1998.

Few have been able to come close to the youngster's ridiculous scoring records—but someone who has is set to face him in the last match of group games. Together with Senegal, The Nordic side have been paired with the French superstar's France.

This means the leading scorers in the Premier League and La Liga will clash for the initial occasion in on the global stage. Anticipate net-bulgers. Lots of goals.

A Familiar Foe

El Tri will face South Africa in the first game—and not for the first time. The sides also opened the 2010 edition. That match, which finished 1-1, is most famous for a rasping goal.

Another notable fixture will see France again come up against the Senegalese, who shocked the reigning title-holders back in 2002. On that first day, a then-unknown player upstaged France's galaxy of stars to score the winning goal.

Dream Ties for the First-Timers

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have taken advantage of the larger World Cup to reach the finals for the first occasion. But, awaiting them are former world champions, continental title-holders and Copa America winners.

In one group, Curacao, the least populous country to ever play at a World Cup, will meet four-time winners Die Mannschaft. Cape Verde, with a population of around half a million, will face Euro winners and 2010 World Cup winners La Roja.

The Middle Eastern side, after decades of trying, will face defending champions Argentina and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be led by a 2006 World Cup winner against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal.

What About the Playoff Rounds?

If all the favorites make it safely through their groups, fans may not wait long for the heavyweights to collide. The last 16 is where things could get extremely interesting, most notably with a possible matchup between past winners Germany and France.

On the other side of the draw, eyes will be fixed on the last eight, where old rivals Messi and Ronaldo are lined up for a potential showdown. It would require both Messi's team and Ronaldo's side winning their groups and navigating the initial playoffs.

Regarding the Three Lions, a game against co-hosts Mexico seems the probable first knockout game. Should Scotland are able to get through, Japan or the Netherlands could be waiting in what would be their historic World Cup playoff match.