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

Long before the Village People took to the stage with YMCA, we were left analyzing a group stage featuring a clash between football's top strikers and a knockout stage that could produce a truly mouthwatering encounter between two greats of the sport.

The Ceremony That Seemed Like It Would Go On Forever

Numerous viewers logged on eager to find out their team's initial fixtures. But, even though fans are used to these draws taking some time, this one set a new standard.

After performances by a pop star and Nicole Scherzinger, addresses from dignitaries and football's governing body, plus numerous video packages and discussions, it eventually appeared to get going almost 60 minutes later. Or so we thought.

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

On to the Actual Football...

Next summer's World Cup will be the largest in history, with a record 48 teams and a first-ever additional knockout round. Yet, this expansion has perhaps led to the initial phase being somewhat weakened in quality.

There are hardly any fixtures between the major nations. The Three Lions' match with Croatia is the biggest theoretically. That is the sole opening-round game with two teams inside the world's elite.

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

A Pair of Goal Machines Go Head-to-Head

Phenomenal striker Erling Haaland will get a crack at his first major tournament in the upcoming finals. The Manchester City forward netted 16 goals in qualifying matches to drag his nation to their initial berth since 1998.

Hardly any have managed to rival the 25-year-old's ridiculous goalscoring feats—but someone who has is scheduled to face him in the last match 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 Spain's division will go head-to-head for the initial occasion in international football. Expect net-bulgers. Lots of goals.

A Familiar Foe

El Tri will face Bafana Bafana in the first game—and not for the first time. The sides also opened the 2010 edition. That match, ending 1-1, is best remembered for a thunderous second-half strike.

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

Dream Ties for the Debutants

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have taken advantage of the larger World Cup to reach the tournament for the first time. But, awaiting them are former world champions, continental title-holders and South American champions.

In one group, the tiny Caribbean island, the smallest nation to ever feature in a World Cup, will take on four-time winners Germany. The island nation, with a population of around 600,000, will face Euro winners and 2010 World Cup winners Spain.

Jordan, after 40 years of trying, meets title-holders Argentina and Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be guided by a former champion against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal.

And Then Comes the Playoff Rounds?

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 possible matchup between past winners the Germans and France.

On the other side of the draw, eyes will be drawn to the last eight, where historic adversaries the Argentine and the Portuguese are set for a possible clash. It would require both Messi's team and Ronaldo's side finishing top and navigating the early knockout rounds.

Regarding the Three Lions, a game against tournament hosts seems the most likely last-32 tie. And, if Scotland are able to get through, Japan or the Dutch could await in what would be their first ever World Cup knockout fixture.