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Next summer's global tournament is at last beginning to seem tangible. While supporters can finally start marking their calendars, the recent ceremony in the US capital was full of significant headlines.

Long before the Village People took to the stage with YMCA, observers were analyzing a opening round featuring a showdown between two of the world's best forwards and a playoff bracket promising a truly mouthwatering meeting between legends of the sport.

The Ceremony That Seemed Like It Would Go On Forever

Many people tuned in keen to discover their team's group stage fixtures. But, even though fans are accustomed to these draws being lengthy, this was extraordinary.

After performances by a pop star and a former Pussycat Doll, speeches from political leaders and football's governing body, plus countless video packages and discussions, it finally seemed to begin nearly an hour later. That was an illusion.

This led to 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 required almost an hour to finish.

On to the Football Itself...

Next summer's tournament will be the biggest in the competition's history, with a record 48 teams and a first-ever additional knockout round. Yet, this expansion has maybe resulted in the group stage being somewhat weakened in overall strength.

There are very few matches between the traditional powerhouses. The Three Lions' match with Croatia is the biggest theoretically. That is the only group fixture with two teams ranked in the top 10.

The Selecao versus The Atlas Lions is the second most intriguing. The Netherlands have the toughest group by official standings, while Die Mannschaft—drawn against Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao—have the weakest. Nevertheless, compelling contests remain.

Two Goal Machines Face Off

Phenomenal striker Erling Haaland will get a crack at his major international competition next summer. The Manchester City forward netted 16 goals in eight matches to drag his nation to their first appearance since 1998.

Hardly any have managed to rival the youngster's ridiculous scoring records—but someone who has is set to face him in the final round of group games. Together with Senegal, Norway have been paired with Kylian Mbappe's Les Bleus.

This means the leading scorers in the English top flight and Spain's division will clash for the initial occasion in international football. Expect goals. Lots of goals.

A Familiar Foe

Mexico will take on Bafana Bafana in the first game—and not for the first time. The sides also opened the 2010 edition. That match, which finished 1-1, is most famous for a rasping second-half strike.

Another eye-catching fixture will see France again come up against Senegal, who shocked the reigning title-holders back in the 2002 World Cup. On that first day, a then-unknown player upstaged France's cast of star names to score the decisive goal.

Fantasy Fixtures for the First-Timers

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have taken advantage of the larger World Cup to reach the tournament for the first time. However, awaiting them are past winners, European champions and Copa America winners.

In one group, Curacao, the least populous country to ever play at a World Cup, will take on four-time winners Die Mannschaft. The island nation, with a resident count of around 600,000, will face Euro winners and former champions Spain.

Jordan, after 40 years of trying, meets title-holders Argentina and Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be guided by a 2006 World Cup winner against the Portuguese icon's Selecao das Quinas.

What About the Knockout Stage?

If all the top teams make it safely through their groups, we shouldn't have to wait for the big hitters to collide. The round of 32 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 draw, eyes will be fixed on the quarter-final stage, where historic adversaries Messi and Ronaldo are set for a potential 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 most likely last-32 tie. Should Scotland are able to get through, Samurai Blue or the Dutch could await in what would be their historic World Cup knockout fixture.