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Next summer's World Cup is at last beginning to seem very real. While supporters can finally start planning their schedules, Friday's ceremony in the US capital was full of major talking points.

Long before the Village People performed with YMCA, observers were picking the bones out of a group stage that includes a showdown between two of the world's best strikers and a knockout stage promising a highly anticipated encounter between two greats of the sport.

The Draw That Felt Like It May Never End

Numerous viewers tuned in keen to discover their national side's initial opponents. But, despite the fact supporters are used to these draws taking some time, this was extraordinary.

Following acts by a pop star and Nicole Scherzinger, speeches from political leaders and Fifa officials, plus countless montages 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 initially started. The draw itself then took 59 minutes to finish.

On to the Football Itself...

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

There are very few fixtures between the major nations. England's game against their 2018 semi-final opponents is the most significant theoretically. That is the only group fixture with two teams inside the world's elite.

The Selecao versus The Atlas Lions is the second most intriguing. The Netherlands have the toughest group by Fifa world rankings, while Die Mannschaft—grouped with Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao—have the easiest on paper. But, compelling contests still await.

Two Prolific Scorers Go Head-to-Head

Phenomenal striker Norway's star will make his debut in his major international competition in the upcoming finals. The Premier League striker scored 16 times in qualifying matches to single-handedly carry his nation to their initial berth since 1998.

Hardly any have been able to rival the 25-year-old's ridiculous scoring records—except for one player is set to come up against him in the last match of group games. Along with Senegal, Norway have been drawn against Kylian Mbappe's Les Bleus.

This means the top marksmen in the Premier League and Spain's division will go head-to-head for the initial occasion in on the global stage. Anticipate net-bulgers. Plenty of scoring.

A Familiar Foe

Mexico will face South Africa in the opening match—repeating history. The sides also opened the 2010 edition. That match, ending 1-1, is most famous for a rasping second-half strike.

Another notable group game will see France again come up against Senegal, who shocked the then-world champions back in the 2002 World Cup. On that first day, a future Fulham midfielder outshone France's galaxy of stars to score the winning goal.

Fantasy Fixtures for the First-Timers

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have taken advantage of the larger World Cup to reach the finals for the first occasion. However, awaiting them are past winners, European champions and South American champions.

In one group, the tiny Caribbean island, the least populous country to ever feature in a World Cup, will take on multiple winners Germany. The island nation, with a population of around 600,000, will face European champions and former champions La Roja.

Jordan, after decades of trying, will face defending champions La Albiceleste and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be guided by a 2006 World Cup winner against the Portuguese icon's Portugal.

And Then Comes the Playoff Rounds?

Assuming all the favorites make it safely through their groups, we shouldn't have to wait for the big hitters to meet. The round of 32 is where things could get really tasty, most notably with a potential tie between past winners the Germans and the French.

On the other side of the bracket, eyes will be drawn to the quarter-final stage, where historic adversaries the Argentine and Ronaldo are set for a potential clash. It would require both Argentina and Ronaldo's side finishing top and squeezing through the initial playoffs.

Regarding the Three Lions, a game against co-hosts Mexico seems the most likely first knockout game. Should Scotland are able to get through, Samurai Blue or the Dutch could await in what would be their historic World Cup knockout fixture.