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Next summer's global tournament is at last starting to feel tangible. Although fans can finally start planning their schedules, Friday's ceremony in the US capital was not short of major talking points.

Well before the iconic group took to the stage with YMCA, observers were picking the bones out of a group stage featuring a clash between two of the world's best strikers and a playoff bracket promising a truly mouthwatering encounter between legends of the sport.

The Draw That Seemed Like It May Never End

Numerous viewers tuned in eager to discover their national side's group stage opponents. But, even though fans are accustomed to such ceremonies being lengthy, this was extraordinary.

Following acts by Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger, speeches from political leaders and Fifa officials, plus countless video packages and interviews, it eventually appeared to get going almost 60 minutes later. Or so we thought.

Cue further commentary and performances, before the real selection process eventually began nearly an hour and a half after the glitzy event first kicked off. The selection then took 59 minutes to finish.

Moving On to the Football Itself...

Next summer's World Cup will be the largest in history, with a record 48 teams and a new round of 32. Yet, this increase in size has maybe resulted in the group stage being somewhat weakened in overall strength.

There are very few fixtures between the traditional powerhouses. The Three Lions' match with their 2018 semi-final opponents is the biggest on paper. That is the only group fixture with two teams inside the world's elite.

Brazil versus Morocco is the next best. The Netherlands have the most difficult draw by Fifa world rankings, while Die Mannschaft—drawn against Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao—have the weakest. But, compelling contests remain.

Two Goal Machines Face Off

Generational goalgetter Erling Haaland will get a crack at his first major tournament next summer. The Premier League striker scored 16 times in eight matches to drag his country to their first appearance since 1998.

Hardly any have managed to come close to the 25-year-old's incredible goalscoring feats—except for one player is scheduled to face him in the final round of group games. Along with Senegal, Norway have been drawn against Kylian Mbappe's France.

This means the leading scorers in the English top flight and Spain's division will go head-to-head for the initial occasion in on the global stage. Expect goals. Lots of goals.

A Familiar Foe

El Tri 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 best remembered for a thunderous goal.

Another eye-catching fixture will see France again come up against the Senegalese, who stunned the then-world champions back in the 2002 World Cup. On that first day, a then-unknown player upstaged France's cast of star names to score the winning goal.

Dream Ties for the First-Timers

Four new nations have benefited from the larger World Cup to reach the tournament 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 meet multiple winners Die Mannschaft. Cape Verde, with a population of around 600,000, will face Euro winners and 2010 World Cup winners Spain.

Jordan, after 40 years of trying, meets defending champions La Albiceleste and Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be guided by a former champion against Cristiano Ronaldo's Selecao das Quinas.

And Then Comes the Knockout Stage?

Assuming all the top teams make it safely through their groups, fans may not wait long for the big hitters to meet. The last 16 is where things could get really tasty, most notably with a potential tie between past winners the Germans and France.

On the opposite half of the draw, eyes will be fixed on the quarter-final stage, where historic adversaries the Argentine and the Portuguese are lined up for a potential clash. It would require both Argentina and Portugal finishing top and navigating the initial playoffs.

For England, a game against co-hosts Mexico seems the probable last-32 tie. And, if the Scots progress, Samurai Blue or the Netherlands could await in what would be their historic World Cup knockout fixture.