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Next summer's global tournament is at last beginning to seem very real. While fans are now able to begin planning their schedules, Friday's draw in the US capital was not short of significant headlines.

Well before the Village People took to the stage with their classic hit, we were left picking the bones out of a opening round featuring a showdown between two of the world's best strikers and a playoff bracket promising a highly anticipated encounter between two greats of the game.

The Draw That Felt Like It Would Go On Forever

Numerous viewers tuned in keen to find out their team's initial opponents. However, despite the fact supporters are used 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 political leaders and football's governing body, plus countless video packages and discussions, it finally seemed to begin nearly an hour later. That was an illusion.

This led to further commentary and entertainment, before the actual draw eventually began around 90 minutes after the star-studded show initially started. The draw itself then required almost an hour to finish.

On to the Actual Football...

The upcoming tournament will be the largest in the competition's history, with a unprecedented number of nations and a first-ever additional knockout round. However, this increase in size has maybe resulted in the group stage being somewhat weakened in quality.

There are very few matches between the traditional powerhouses. The Three Lions' match with their 2018 semi-final opponents is the biggest on paper. That is the only group fixture with two teams inside the world's elite.

Brazil versus Morocco is the second most intriguing. The Dutch have the most difficult draw by official standings, while Die Mannschaft—drawn against Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao—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 major international competition next summer. The Premier League striker scored 16 times in eight matches to drag his nation to their first appearance since 1998.

Few have managed to come close to the 25-year-old's incredible goalscoring feats—except for one player is set to come up against him in the last match of group games. Together with The Lions of Teranga, Norway have been paired with Kylian Mbappe's Les Bleus.

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. Expect net-bulgers. Lots of goals.

We Meet Again

Mexico will face South Africa in the first game—and not for the first time. The two teams also opened the tournament in South Africa. That match, which finished 1-1, is most famous for a rasping second-half strike.

Another eye-catching fixture will see France once more face the Senegalese, who shocked the reigning title-holders back in 2002. On that first day, a then-unknown player outshone France's galaxy of stars to score the winning goal.

Fantasy Fixtures for the Debutants

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have taken advantage of the expanded World Cup to qualify for the tournament for the first occasion. But, standing in their way are former world champions, European champions and South American champions.

In one group, the tiny Caribbean island, the smallest nation to ever feature in a World Cup, will meet four-time winners Germany. The island nation, with a resident count of around half a million, will face Euro winners and 2010 World Cup winners Spain.

The Middle Eastern side, after decades of trying, meets title-holders Argentina and Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be led by a former champion against Cristiano Ronaldo's Selecao das Quinas.

What About the Knockout Stage?

Assuming all the top teams make it safely through their groups, fans may not wait long for the heavyweights to collide. The round of 32 is where things could get extremely interesting, most notably with a potential tie between past winners 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 Ronaldo are lined up for a possible clash. It would require both Argentina and Portugal winning their groups and navigating the early knockout rounds.

Regarding the Three Lions, a game against co-hosts Mexico seems the probable first knockout game. Should the Scots are able to get through, Samurai Blue or the Dutch could be waiting in what would be their historic World Cup playoff match.