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Next summer's global tournament is finally starting to feel tangible. Although supporters can finally start planning their schedules, Friday's ceremony in the US capital was full of major talking points.

Well before the Village People performed with their classic hit, observers were picking the bones out of a group stage featuring a showdown between football's top strikers and a knockout stage promising a truly mouthwatering meeting between two greats of the game.

The Draw That Seemed Like It Would Go On Forever

Numerous viewers tuned in keen to discover their national side's group stage opponents. But, even though supporters are used to such ceremonies being lengthy, this was extraordinary.

Following performances by a pop star and Nicole Scherzinger, speeches from dignitaries and Fifa officials, plus numerous montages and discussions, it finally seemed to begin nearly an hour later. Or so we thought.

This led to more interviews and performances, before the real selection process finally commenced around 90 minutes after the glitzy event first kicked off. The selection then required almost an hour to finish.

Moving On to the Actual Football...

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

There are very few matches between the traditional powerhouses. England's game against Croatia is the biggest on paper. That is the sole opening-round game featuring two teams inside the world's elite.

Brazil versus Morocco is the next best. The Dutch have the most difficult draw by official standings, while Die Mannschaft—drawn against less-fancied opponents—have the weakest. But, interesting matches remain.

A Pair of Prolific Scorers Face Off

Phenomenal striker Erling Haaland will get a crack at his major international competition in the upcoming finals. The Premier League forward netted 16 goals in qualifying matches to drag his nation to their initial berth since 1998.

Hardly any have been able to rival the youngster's incredible scoring records—except for one player is set to face him in the last match of group games. Along with Senegal, The Nordic side have been paired with the French superstar's Les Bleus.

This means the leading scorers in the Premier League and La Liga will go head-to-head for the initial occasion in on the global stage. Expect 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 two teams also opened the tournament in South Africa. That match, ending 1-1, is most famous for a thunderous second-half strike.

Another notable group game will see France once more face Senegal, who stunned the reigning title-holders back in 2002. On that opening night, a future Fulham midfielder outshone France's galaxy of stars to score the decisive goal.

Fantasy Fixtures 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 past winners, continental title-holders and South American champions.

In one group, the tiny Caribbean island, the least populous country to ever play at a World Cup, will take on four-time winners Germany. Cape Verde, with a resident count of around 600,000, will face European champions and 2010 World Cup winners La Roja.

The Middle Eastern side, after decades of trying, will face defending champions Argentina and Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be led by a 2006 World Cup winner against the Portuguese icon's Portugal.

And Then Comes the Playoff Rounds?

If all the top teams progress from their groups, fans may not wait long for the heavyweights to collide. The round of 32 is where things could get really tasty, most notably with a potential tie between former champions the Germans and the French.

On the opposite half of the bracket, eyes will be fixed on the quarter-final stage, where old rivals Messi and Ronaldo are lined up for a possible showdown. It would require both Argentina and Ronaldo's side winning their groups and squeezing through the early knockout rounds.

For England, a match with co-hosts Mexico seems the most likely first knockout game. Should the Scots are able to get through, Japan or the Dutch could be waiting in what would be their first ever World Cup playoff match.