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Next summer's global tournament is at last starting to feel very real. Although fans can finally start planning their schedules, Friday's draw in the US capital was full of significant headlines.

Long before the iconic group performed with their classic hit, observers were picking the bones out of a opening round featuring a showdown between football's top forwards and a playoff bracket promising a highly anticipated meeting between legends of the sport.

The Ceremony That Felt Like It May Never End

Many people tuned in eager to discover their national side's group stage fixtures. However, despite the fact fans are used to these draws taking some time, this one set a new standard.

Following acts by Robbie Williams and a former Pussycat Doll, addresses from dignitaries and football's governing body, plus countless montages and discussions, it finally seemed to get going 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 draw itself 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 unprecedented number of nations and a first-ever additional knockout round. Yet, this expansion has perhaps led to the initial phase being somewhat weakened in overall strength.

There are hardly any matches between the traditional powerhouses. The Three Lions' game against Croatia is the biggest on paper. That is the sole opening-round game featuring two teams ranked in the top 10.

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

A Pair of Goal Machines Face Off

Phenomenal striker Erling Haaland will get a crack at his major international competition in the upcoming finals. The Manchester City forward scored 16 times in qualifying matches to single-handedly carry his nation to their initial berth since 1998.

Hardly any have managed to come close to the 25-year-old's ridiculous goalscoring feats—except for one player is scheduled to face him in the final round of group games. Along with The Lions of Teranga, Norway have been paired with Kylian Mbappe'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 goals. Plenty of scoring.

We Meet Again

Mexico will face Bafana Bafana in the first game—and not for the first time. The sides also kicked off the 2010 edition. That game, ending 1-1, is most famous for a rasping second-half strike.

Another eye-catching group game will see the French again come up against Senegal, who stunned the reigning title-holders back in 2002. On that opening night, a then-unknown player outshone France's cast of star names to score the winning goal.

Dream Ties for the Debutants

Four new nations have taken advantage of the larger World Cup to reach the tournament for the first occasion. However, standing in their way are former world champions, European champions 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 population of around half a million, will face European champions and former champions La Roja.

Jordan, after decades of trying, meets title-holders Argentina and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be led by a former champion against the Portuguese icon's Portugal.

And Then Comes the Knockout Stage?

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

On the other side of the draw, eyes will be fixed on the quarter-final stage, where old rivals the Argentine and the Portuguese are lined up for a possible showdown. It would require both Argentina and Ronaldo's side winning their groups and squeezing through the initial playoffs.

For England, a match with co-hosts Mexico seems the probable last-32 tie. Should the Scots progress, Japan or the Dutch could be waiting in what would be their historic World Cup knockout fixture.