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The upcoming World Cup is at last starting to feel very real. Although fans can finally start marking their calendars, the recent draw in the US capital was full of significant headlines.

Long before the Village People took to the stage with their classic hit, we were left analyzing a group stage featuring a showdown between football's top strikers and a playoff bracket promising a truly mouthwatering meeting between two greats of the game.

The Ceremony That Seemed Like It May Never End

Numerous viewers logged on eager to find out their team's group stage opponents. However, despite the fact supporters are accustomed to such ceremonies taking some time, this one set a new standard.

Following performances by a pop star and a former Pussycat Doll, addresses from dignitaries and football's governing body, plus numerous video packages and discussions, it eventually appeared to get going nearly an hour later. Or so we thought.

Cue further commentary and performances, 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 complete.

Moving On to the Actual Football...

Next summer's World Cup will be the largest in history, with a record 48 teams and a new round of 32. Yet, this expansion has perhaps led to the initial phase being somewhat weakened in overall strength.

There are very few matches between the traditional powerhouses. England's game against Croatia is the biggest theoretically. That is the only group fixture featuring two teams ranked in the top 10.

Brazil versus Morocco is the next best. The Netherlands have the toughest group by official standings, while Die Mannschaft—grouped with less-fancied opponents—have the easiest on paper. Nevertheless, interesting matches remain.

Two Goal Machines Go Head-to-Head

Generational goalgetter Erling Haaland will get a crack at his first major tournament next summer. The Premier League striker scored 16 times in eight matches to single-handedly carry his country to their first appearance since 1998.

Few have been able to come close to the youngster's incredible scoring records—except for one player is set to face him in the final round of group games. Along with The Lions of Teranga, The Nordic side have been drawn against Kylian Mbappe's France.

This means the leading scorers in the English top flight and Spain's division will go head-to-head for the initial occasion in on the global stage. Anticipate goals. Lots of goals.

A Familiar Foe

El Tri will take on Bafana Bafana in the opening match—and not for the first time. The two teams also opened the tournament in South Africa. That game, 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 then-world champions back in the 2002 World Cup. On that first day, a future Fulham midfielder outshone France's cast of star names to score the winning goal.

Fantasy Fixtures for the Debutants

Four new nations have taken advantage of the larger World Cup to qualify for the finals for the first time. But, awaiting them are past winners, European champions 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 Germany. Cape Verde, with a population of around 600,000, will face European champions and former champions Spain.

The Middle Eastern side, after 40 years of trying, will face defending champions Argentina and Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be led by a 2006 World Cup winner against the Portuguese icon's Portugal.

What About the Knockout Stage?

Assuming all the top teams progress from their groups, fans may not wait long for the heavyweights to collide. The last 16 is where things could get really tasty, most notably with a potential tie between past winners the Germans and the French.

On the opposite half of the bracket, eyes will be fixed on the last eight, where historic adversaries Messi and Ronaldo are lined up for a potential clash. It would require both Argentina and Ronaldo's side winning their groups and squeezing through the initial playoffs.

For England, a game against tournament hosts seems the most likely last-32 tie. Should Scotland progress, Japan or the Dutch could await in what would be their historic World Cup playoff match.