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Next summer's global tournament is at last beginning to seem tangible. Although fans are now able to begin planning their schedules, Friday's draw in the US capital was not short of significant headlines.

Well before the iconic group took to the stage with YMCA, we were left picking the bones out of a group stage featuring a clash between football's top strikers and a knockout stage promising a truly mouthwatering encounter between legends of the game.

The Ceremony That Felt Like It May Never End

Numerous viewers logged on keen to find out their national side's initial opponents. However, despite the fact supporters are accustomed to such ceremonies taking some time, this one set a new standard.

After acts by Robbie Williams and a former Pussycat Doll, addresses from political leaders and Fifa officials, plus countless montages and discussions, it finally seemed to get going almost 60 minutes later. Or so we thought.

Cue more interviews and performances, before the real selection process finally commenced nearly an hour and a half after the glitzy event initially started. The selection then took 59 minutes to complete.

On to the Football Itself...

Next summer's tournament will be the largest in history, with a unprecedented number of nations and a new round of 32. However, this increase in size has perhaps led to the initial phase being slightly diluted in quality.

There are very few matches between the traditional powerhouses. The Three Lions' match with their 2018 semi-final opponents is the biggest theoretically. That is the only group fixture featuring two teams ranked in the top 10.

The Selecao versus Morocco is the next best. The Netherlands have the toughest group by official standings, while Germany—grouped with Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao—have the weakest. Nevertheless, interesting matches remain.

A Pair of Goal Machines Face Off

Phenomenal striker Norway's star will get a crack at his first major tournament in the upcoming finals. The Premier League forward scored 16 times in eight matches to drag his nation to their initial berth since 1998.

Few have managed to rival the 25-year-old's incredible goalscoring feats—but someone who has is set to face him in the final round of the group stage. Together with Senegal, Norway have been drawn against Kylian Mbappe's Les Bleus.

This means the leading scorers in the English top flight and Spain's division will go head-to-head for the initial occasion in international football. Expect net-bulgers. 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 tournament in South Africa. That match, which finished 1-1, is best remembered for a thunderous second-half strike.

Another notable group game will see France once more face Senegal, who stunned the then-world champions back in the 2002 World Cup. On that opening night, a future Fulham midfielder upstaged France's galaxy of stars to score the winning goal.

Dream Ties for the First-Timers

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

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 European champions and former champions Spain.

The Middle Eastern side, after 40 years of trying, meets title-holders La Albiceleste and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be led by a 2006 World Cup winner against Cristiano Ronaldo's Selecao das Quinas.

What About the Playoff Rounds?

If all the top teams progress from their groups, we shouldn't have to wait for the big hitters to meet. The last 16 is where things could get extremely interesting, most notably with a possible matchup between past winners the Germans and the French.

On the opposite half of the bracket, eyes will be drawn to the last eight, where old rivals Messi and the Portuguese are set for a potential showdown. It would depend on both Messi's team and Portugal finishing top and squeezing through the early knockout rounds.

For England, a match with co-hosts Mexico seems the probable last-32 tie. And, if the Scots are able to get through, Japan or the Netherlands could be waiting in what would be their first ever World Cup playoff match.