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Next summer's global tournament is at last beginning to seem tangible. While fans are now able to begin marking their calendars, the recent ceremony in the US capital was not short of major talking points.

Well before the Village People performed with YMCA, we were left analyzing a group stage featuring a clash between football's top strikers and a knockout stage promising a highly anticipated encounter between two greats of the sport.

The Draw That Seemed Like It Would Go On Forever

Many people tuned in keen to find out their team's initial opponents. But, despite the fact supporters are used to these draws being lengthy, this one set a new standard.

Following acts by a pop star and Nicole Scherzinger, speeches from political leaders and football's governing body, plus countless video packages and discussions, it eventually appeared to get going nearly an hour later. Or so we thought.

Cue further commentary and entertainment, before the actual draw finally commenced around 90 minutes after the star-studded show first kicked off. The draw itself then took 59 minutes to complete.

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. However, this expansion has maybe resulted in the initial phase being slightly diluted in quality.

There are very few matches between the major nations. England's game against their 2018 semi-final opponents is the most significant on paper. That is the sole opening-round game featuring two teams inside the world's elite.

Brazil versus The Atlas Lions is the second most intriguing. The Netherlands have the toughest group by official standings, while Die Mannschaft—drawn against less-fancied opponents—have the easiest on paper. Nevertheless, interesting matches remain.

Two Goal Machines Face Off

Phenomenal striker Erling Haaland will get a crack at his major international competition next summer. The Manchester City striker scored 16 times in qualifying matches to single-handedly carry his nation to their initial berth since 1998.

Hardly any have managed to come close to the youngster's incredible goalscoring feats—but someone who has is scheduled to face him in the last match of group games. Together with Senegal, The Nordic side have been drawn against 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 first time in international football. Anticipate net-bulgers. Lots of goals.

We Meet Again

El Tri will face Bafana Bafana in the opening match—repeating history. The sides also opened the tournament in South Africa. That match, which finished 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 stunned the then-world champions back in 2002. On that opening night, a then-unknown player outshone France's cast of star names to score the winning goal.

Dream Ties for the First-Timers

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have taken advantage of the expanded World Cup to reach the finals for the first time. But, awaiting them are former world champions, continental title-holders and Copa America winners.

In one group, Curacao, the smallest nation to ever feature in a World Cup, will take on four-time winners Die Mannschaft. Cape Verde, with a resident count of around half a million, will face European champions and former champions La Roja.

Jordan, after decades of trying, meets title-holders Argentina and Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be guided by a 2006 World Cup winner against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal.

And Then Comes the Knockout Stage?

If all the top teams make it safely through their groups, we shouldn't have to wait for the heavyweights to collide. The last 16 is where things could get really tasty, most notably with a potential tie between former champions Germany and France.

On the other side of the draw, eyes will be fixed on the quarter-final stage, where historic adversaries the Argentine and the Portuguese are lined up for a possible clash. It would depend on both Argentina and Ronaldo's side finishing top and squeezing through the initial playoffs.

Regarding the Three Lions, a match with tournament hosts seems the most likely last-32 tie. Should Scotland progress, Japan or the Dutch could be waiting in what would be their first ever World Cup knockout fixture.