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Next summer's World Cup is at last beginning to seem very real. While supporters can finally start marking their calendars, Friday's ceremony in the US capital was full of significant headlines.

Long before the Village People performed with YMCA, observers were picking the bones out of a opening round featuring a showdown between football's top strikers and a playoff bracket promising a truly mouthwatering encounter between two greats of the sport.

The Draw That Felt Like It Would Go On Forever

Numerous viewers logged on eager to discover their team's group stage fixtures. However, despite the fact supporters are used to these draws taking some time, this one set a new standard.

Following performances by Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger, speeches from dignitaries and Fifa officials, plus numerous video packages and interviews, it eventually appeared to begin almost 60 minutes later. Or so we thought.

This led to more interviews and entertainment, before the real selection process 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 Actual Football...

Next summer's World Cup will be the biggest in history, with a record 48 teams and a new round of 32. Yet, this increase in size has maybe resulted in the group stage being somewhat weakened in overall strength.

There are hardly any fixtures between the major nations. England's match with Croatia is the biggest theoretically. 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 most difficult draw by Fifa world rankings, while Germany—grouped with Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao—have the weakest. Nevertheless, compelling contests still await.

Two Goal Machines Go Head-to-Head

Phenomenal striker Erling Haaland will get a crack at his major international competition next summer. The Premier League forward netted 16 goals in qualifying matches to single-handedly carry his nation to their initial berth since 1998.

Hardly any have been able to come close to the youngster's ridiculous scoring records—but someone who has is scheduled to come up against him in the last match of the group stage. Along with The Lions of Teranga, Norway 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 first time in international football. Anticipate net-bulgers. Plenty of scoring.

We Meet Again

El Tri will take on Bafana Bafana in the opening match—repeating history. The sides also kicked off the tournament in South Africa. That game, ending 1-1, is best remembered for a thunderous goal.

Another notable fixture will see France again come up against the Senegalese, who shocked the reigning title-holders back in 2002. On that first day, a future Fulham midfielder upstaged France's cast of star names to score the winning goal.

Dream Ties for the First-Timers

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have benefited from the larger World Cup to qualify for the finals for the first occasion. However, awaiting them are former world champions, European champions and South American champions.

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

The Middle Eastern side, after 40 years of trying, meets title-holders Argentina and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be led by a 2006 World Cup winner against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal.

What About the Playoff Rounds?

If all the favorites progress from their groups, we shouldn't have to wait for the big hitters to meet. The last 16 is where things could get extremely interesting, most notably with a potential tie between past winners Germany and France.

On the other side of the bracket, eyes will be drawn to the quarter-final stage, where old rivals Messi and the Portuguese are set for a potential clash. It would depend on both Argentina and Portugal finishing top and squeezing through the initial playoffs.

Regarding the Three Lions, a match with tournament hosts seems the probable last-32 tie. Should Scotland are able to get through, Japan or the Netherlands could await in what would be their first ever World Cup playoff match.