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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, Friday's draw in Washington DC was full of major talking points.

Well before the Village People took to the stage with their classic hit, we were left picking the bones out of a group stage that includes a clash between two of the world's best forwards and a knockout stage promising a highly anticipated encounter between legends of the game.

The Draw That Felt Like It May Never End

Many people tuned in keen to find out their national side's group stage fixtures. But, even though fans are used to such ceremonies being lengthy, this was extraordinary.

After performances by Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger, addresses from political leaders and football's governing body, plus numerous montages and interviews, it eventually appeared to begin nearly an hour later. That was an illusion.

This led to more interviews and entertainment, before the actual draw eventually began around 90 minutes after the star-studded show first kicked off. The selection then took 59 minutes to finish.

Moving On to the Football Itself...

Next summer's tournament will be the largest in history, with a record 48 teams and a new round of 32. Yet, this increase in size has maybe resulted in the initial phase being slightly diluted in overall strength.

There are very few matches between the traditional powerhouses. The Three Lions' match with Croatia 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 Netherlands have the toughest group by Fifa world rankings, while Die Mannschaft—drawn against less-fancied opponents—have the weakest. Nevertheless, interesting matches remain.

Two Goal Machines Go Head-to-Head

Generational goalgetter Norway's star will get a crack at his major international competition in the upcoming finals. The Manchester City forward scored 16 times in qualifying matches to drag his nation to their first appearance since 1998.

Hardly any have been able to rival the 25-year-old's ridiculous scoring records—except for one player is scheduled to come up against him in the last match of group games. Along with The Lions of Teranga, The Nordic side have been paired with Kylian Mbappe's France.

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

We Meet Again

Mexico will face Bafana Bafana in the first game—and not for the first time. The two teams also opened the 2010 edition. That match, which finished 1-1, is most famous for a rasping goal.

Another eye-catching group game will see France once more face Senegal, who shocked the reigning title-holders back in 2002. On that first day, a then-unknown player upstaged France's cast of star names to score the winning goal.

Fantasy Fixtures for the Debutants

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have benefited from the larger World Cup to qualify for the tournament for the first occasion. But, awaiting them are past winners, European champions and Copa America winners.

In one group, Curacao, the least populous country to ever feature in a World Cup, will take on four-time winners Die Mannschaft. Cape Verde, with a population of around 600,000, will face Euro winners and 2010 World Cup winners La Roja.

Jordan, after decades of trying, will face defending champions La Albiceleste and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be led by a 2006 World Cup winner against the Portuguese icon's Portugal.

What About the Playoff Rounds?

Assuming all the top teams make it safely through 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 possible matchup between past winners the Germans and the French.

On the other side of the draw, eyes will be fixed on the last eight, where old rivals the Argentine and the Portuguese are lined up for a potential clash. It would depend on both Argentina and Portugal winning their groups and squeezing through the initial playoffs.

For England, a game against tournament hosts seems the probable first knockout game. Should Scotland are able to get through, Samurai Blue or the Netherlands could await in what would be their first ever World Cup knockout fixture.