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Next summer's global tournament is at last beginning to seem tangible. Although supporters are now able to begin planning their schedules, Friday's draw in the US capital was full of major talking points.

Long before the Village People took to the stage with YMCA, we were left analyzing a opening round featuring a showdown between two of the world's best forwards and a knockout stage that could produce a highly anticipated encounter between two greats of the game.

The Draw That Seemed Like It May Never End

Many people logged on eager to discover their national side's initial opponents. But, despite the fact fans are accustomed to such ceremonies taking some time, this was extraordinary.

Following performances by Robbie Williams and a former Pussycat Doll, addresses from dignitaries and Fifa officials, plus numerous video packages and interviews, it finally seemed to begin almost 60 minutes later. Or so we thought.

This led to more interviews and performances, before the real selection process finally commenced around 90 minutes after the star-studded show initially started. The selection then required almost an hour to finish.

Moving On to the Actual Football...

Next summer's tournament will be the largest in the competition's history, with a unprecedented number of nations and a new round of 32. Yet, this increase in size has maybe resulted in the group stage being slightly diluted in quality.

There are very few fixtures between the traditional powerhouses. The Three Lions' game against their 2018 semi-final opponents is the biggest theoretically. That is the sole opening-round game featuring two teams ranked in the top 10.

Brazil versus Morocco is the second most intriguing. The Dutch have the most difficult draw by Fifa world rankings, while Die Mannschaft—drawn against less-fancied opponents—have the easiest on paper. Nevertheless, interesting matches remain.

A Pair of Prolific Scorers Go Head-to-Head

Generational goalgetter Erling Haaland will get a crack at his first major tournament next summer. The Premier League forward netted 16 goals in eight matches to single-handedly carry his country to their first appearance since 1998.

Few have been able to rival the youngster's ridiculous goalscoring feats—but someone who has is set to come up against him in the final round of the group stage. Together with Senegal, The Nordic side have been paired with Kylian Mbappe's Les Bleus.

This means the top marksmen in the English top flight and Spain's division will clash for the first time in on the global stage. Expect net-bulgers. Plenty of scoring.

We Meet Again

El Tri will take on Bafana Bafana in the opening match—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 goal.

Another eye-catching group game will see France once more face Senegal, who shocked the then-world champions back in the 2002 World Cup. On that first day, a then-unknown player outshone France's cast of star names to score the decisive goal.

Fantasy Fixtures for the Debutants

Four new nations have taken advantage of the larger World Cup to reach the finals for the first time. But, standing in their way are former world champions, European champions and Copa America winners.

In one group, the tiny Caribbean island, the smallest nation to ever play at a World Cup, will take on multiple winners Die Mannschaft. The island nation, with a population of around 600,000, will face Euro winners and former champions Spain.

Jordan, after 40 years of trying, will face title-holders Argentina and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be led by a former champion against Cristiano Ronaldo's Selecao das Quinas.

What About the Knockout Stage?

If all the favorites progress from their groups, fans may not wait long for the heavyweights to meet. The round of 32 is where things could get extremely interesting, most notably with a potential tie between former champions Germany and the French.

On the other side of the bracket, eyes will be fixed on the quarter-final stage, where old rivals the Argentine and Ronaldo are set for a possible clash. It would require both Messi's team and Ronaldo's side finishing top and squeezing through the early knockout rounds.

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