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The upcoming global tournament is finally starting to feel tangible. Although fans can finally start planning their schedules, the recent draw in the US capital was not short of major talking points.

Long before the Village People performed with YMCA, observers were analyzing a opening round featuring a clash between football's top strikers and a playoff bracket that could produce a truly mouthwatering encounter between two greats of the sport.

The Ceremony That Felt Like It Would Go On Forever

Numerous viewers logged on keen to discover their national side's initial opponents. However, even though fans are accustomed to these draws taking some time, this was extraordinary.

After acts by Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger, addresses from dignitaries and football's governing body, plus numerous montages and discussions, it eventually appeared to get going nearly an hour later. That was an illusion.

Cue further commentary and entertainment, before the real selection process eventually began nearly an hour and a half after the glitzy event first kicked off. The selection then required almost an hour to complete.

Moving On to the Football Itself...

The upcoming World Cup will be the largest in history, with a record 48 teams and a new round of 32. Yet, this expansion has maybe resulted in the group stage being somewhat weakened in quality.

There are hardly any matches between the major nations. England's game against their 2018 semi-final opponents is the biggest theoretically. That is the sole opening-round game featuring two teams inside the world's elite.

The Selecao versus The Atlas Lions is the next best. The Netherlands have the most difficult draw by Fifa world rankings, while Die Mannschaft—grouped with less-fancied opponents—have the weakest. But, interesting matches remain.

A Pair of Prolific Scorers Go Head-to-Head

Phenomenal striker Norway's star will make his debut in his first major tournament 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 managed to come close to the youngster's ridiculous scoring records—except for one player is set to come up against him in the last match of group games. Along with The Lions of Teranga, Norway have been drawn against Kylian Mbappe's France.

This means the leading scorers in the English top flight and La Liga will go head-to-head for the first time in on the global stage. Expect net-bulgers. Plenty of scoring.

A Familiar Foe

Mexico will face South Africa 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 rasping goal.

Another eye-catching group game will see France once more face the Senegalese, 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 First-Timers

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have benefited from the expanded World Cup to reach the finals for the first occasion. However, awaiting them are former world champions, European champions and South American champions.

In one group, the tiny Caribbean island, the smallest nation to ever play at a World Cup, will take on four-time winners Die Mannschaft. Cape Verde, with a resident count of around 600,000, will face Euro winners and former champions La Roja.

Jordan, after decades of trying, will face title-holders La Albiceleste and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be guided by a 2006 World Cup winner against the Portuguese icon's Selecao das Quinas.

What About the Knockout Stage?

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

On the opposite half of the bracket, eyes will be fixed on the quarter-final stage, where historic adversaries the Argentine and Ronaldo are lined up for a potential clash. It would depend on both Argentina and Ronaldo's side finishing top and squeezing through the early knockout rounds.

Regarding the Three Lions, a match with co-hosts Mexico seems the most likely first knockout game. And, if the Scots progress, Samurai Blue or the Netherlands could await in what would be their first ever World Cup playoff match.