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Next summer's global tournament is at last beginning to seem very real. Although fans can finally start marking their calendars, Friday's draw in the US capital was full of significant headlines.

Well before the iconic group took to the stage with YMCA, we were left picking the bones out of a opening round that includes a showdown between two of the world's best strikers and a knockout stage that could produce a truly mouthwatering meeting between two greats of the game.

The Ceremony That Seemed Like It May Never End

Numerous viewers tuned in keen to discover their team's group stage fixtures. However, despite the fact fans are used to these draws being lengthy, this was extraordinary.

After acts by Robbie Williams and a former Pussycat Doll, addresses from dignitaries and Fifa officials, plus numerous video packages and interviews, it finally seemed to begin nearly an hour later. That was an illusion.

This led to more interviews and performances, before the actual draw finally commenced nearly an hour and a half after the glitzy event first kicked off. The selection then required almost an hour to complete.

On to the Actual Football...

Next summer's World Cup will be the biggest in the competition's 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 quality.

There are very few matches between the traditional powerhouses. England's match with their 2018 semi-final opponents is the most significant on paper. That is the only group fixture featuring two teams ranked in the top 10.

The Selecao versus Morocco is the next best. The Dutch have the toughest group by official standings, while Die Mannschaft—drawn against Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao—have the easiest on paper. Nevertheless, interesting matches still await.

A Pair of Goal Machines Go Head-to-Head

Phenomenal striker Erling Haaland will make his debut in his first major tournament next summer. The Premier League forward netted 16 goals in qualifying 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 incredible scoring records—except for one player is set to face him in the final round of the group stage. Along with Senegal, Norway have been paired with Kylian Mbappe's France.

This means the leading scorers in the English top flight and La Liga will clash for the first time in international football. Expect net-bulgers. Lots of goals.

We Meet Again

Mexico will take on South Africa in the first game—repeating history. The sides also kicked off the tournament in South Africa. That game, which finished 1-1, is best remembered for a rasping goal.

Another eye-catching group game will see the French again come up against Senegal, who stunned the then-world champions back in 2002. On that first day, a future Fulham midfielder outshone France's galaxy of stars to score the winning goal.

Fantasy Fixtures for the First-Timers

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have benefited from the expanded World Cup to reach the finals for the first occasion. But, standing in their way are former world champions, continental title-holders and South American champions.

In one group, the tiny Caribbean island, the least populous country to ever play at a World Cup, will take on multiple winners Die Mannschaft. The island nation, with a population of around half a million, will face European champions and 2010 World Cup winners La Roja.

The Middle Eastern side, after decades of trying, will face defending champions Argentina and Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be led by a 2006 World Cup winner against the Portuguese icon's Selecao das Quinas.

And Then Comes the Knockout Stage?

Assuming all the favorites make it safely through their groups, we shouldn't have to wait for the big hitters to collide. The last 16 is where things could get extremely interesting, most notably with a possible matchup between former champions the Germans and the French.

On the other side of the draw, eyes will be fixed on the quarter-final stage, where historic adversaries the Argentine and the Portuguese are set for a potential clash. It would require both Argentina and Portugal finishing top and squeezing through the early knockout rounds.

Regarding the Three Lions, a match with tournament hosts seems the probable last-32 tie. And, if Scotland progress, Japan or the Dutch could be waiting in what would be their first ever World Cup knockout fixture.