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Next summer's global tournament is at last starting to feel tangible. While supporters can finally start marking their calendars, Friday's ceremony in Washington DC was full of major talking points.

Well before the iconic group took to the stage with their classic hit, observers were picking the bones out of a opening round featuring a clash between two of the world's best strikers and a knockout stage promising a truly mouthwatering meeting between two greats of the game.

The Ceremony That Felt Like It Would Go On Forever

Numerous viewers logged on eager to discover their national side's initial opponents. But, even though supporters are accustomed to these draws being lengthy, this was extraordinary.

Following performances by a pop star and a former Pussycat Doll, speeches from dignitaries and football's governing body, plus countless video packages and interviews, it finally seemed to begin nearly an hour later. Or so we thought.

This led to more interviews and performances, before the actual draw eventually began nearly an hour and a half after the glitzy event first kicked off. The draw itself 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 first-ever additional knockout round. Yet, this expansion has perhaps led to the group stage being slightly diluted in quality.

There are hardly any matches between the traditional powerhouses. The Three Lions' match with their 2018 semi-final opponents is the most significant on paper. That is the only group fixture with two teams ranked in the top 10.

Brazil versus Morocco is the second most intriguing. The Dutch have the most difficult draw by official standings, while Germany—drawn against Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao—have the weakest. Nevertheless, interesting matches remain.

A Pair of Prolific Scorers Go Head-to-Head

Generational goalgetter Norway's star will get a crack at his first major tournament in the upcoming finals. The Manchester City forward netted 16 goals in qualifying matches to single-handedly carry his country to their first appearance since 1998.

Hardly any have managed to rival the 25-year-old's incredible goalscoring feats—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 paired with Kylian Mbappe's France.

This means the top marksmen in the English top flight and La Liga will clash for the first time in on the global stage. Anticipate goals. Lots of goals.

A Familiar Foe

El Tri will take on Bafana Bafana in the first game—and not for the first time. The sides also kicked off the 2010 edition. That match, which finished 1-1, is most famous for a thunderous goal.

Another eye-catching group game will see the French once more face Senegal, who shocked the reigning title-holders back in 2002. On that first day, a future Fulham midfielder outshone France's cast of star names to score the decisive goal.

Dream Ties for the First-Timers

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

In one group, Curacao, the smallest nation to ever play at a World Cup, will take on multiple winners Die Mannschaft. Cape Verde, with a population of around 600,000, will face Euro winners and former champions La Roja.

Jordan, after 40 years of trying, meets defending champions Argentina and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be led by a 2006 World Cup winner against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal.

What About the Playoff Rounds?

Assuming all the top teams make it safely through their groups, we shouldn't have to wait for the heavyweights to collide. The round of 32 is where things could get really tasty, most notably with a possible matchup between past winners Germany and France.

On the opposite half of the draw, eyes will be fixed on the last eight, where old rivals the Argentine and Ronaldo are lined up for a potential clash. It would require both Messi's team and Portugal winning their groups and navigating the early knockout rounds.

For England, a game against tournament hosts seems the probable last-32 tie. And, if Scotland progress, Samurai Blue or the Netherlands could be waiting in what would be their first ever World Cup knockout fixture.