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The upcoming World Cup is at last starting to feel very real. Although fans are now able to begin marking their calendars, the recent draw in the US capital was full of major talking points.

Well before the iconic group performed with their classic hit, observers were picking the bones out of a opening round featuring a showdown between football's top forwards and a playoff bracket that could produce a truly mouthwatering encounter between legends of the sport.

The Ceremony That Seemed Like It Would Go On Forever

Numerous viewers tuned in eager to find out their team's group stage opponents. But, despite the fact fans are used to such ceremonies taking some time, this one set a new standard.

Following performances by Robbie Williams and a former Pussycat Doll, addresses from dignitaries and football's governing body, plus countless montages and discussions, it eventually appeared to begin nearly an hour later. Or so we thought.

Cue further commentary and entertainment, before the actual draw finally commenced nearly an hour and a half after the star-studded show first kicked off. The draw itself then took 59 minutes to finish.

On to the Actual Football...

Next summer's tournament will be the largest in the competition's history, with a unprecedented number of nations and a new round of 32. However, this expansion has maybe resulted in the initial phase being slightly diluted in quality.

There are very few fixtures between the major nations. The Three Lions' match with Croatia is the most significant on paper. That is the sole opening-round game featuring two teams inside the world's elite.

Brazil versus The Atlas Lions is the next best. The Netherlands have the most difficult draw by Fifa world rankings, while Die Mannschaft—drawn against less-fancied opponents—have the easiest on paper. Nevertheless, interesting matches remain.

Two Prolific Scorers Go Head-to-Head

Phenomenal striker Erling Haaland will get a crack at his first major tournament next summer. The Manchester City forward scored 16 times in eight matches to single-handedly carry his nation to their initial berth since 1998.

Few have been able to rival the youngster's ridiculous goalscoring feats—but someone who has is set to face him in the final round of group games. Together with The Lions of Teranga, Norway have been drawn against Kylian Mbappe's Les Bleus.

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 goals. Plenty of scoring.

We Meet Again

El Tri will face South Africa in the first game—and not for the first time. The sides also opened the 2010 edition. That game, which finished 1-1, is best remembered for a thunderous second-half strike.

Another notable fixture will see France once more face the Senegalese, who shocked the reigning title-holders back in the 2002 World Cup. On that opening night, a then-unknown player outshone France's cast of star names to score the decisive goal.

Fantasy Fixtures for the First-Timers

Four new nations have benefited from the larger World Cup to reach the finals for the first time. However, awaiting them are former world champions, continental title-holders and South American champions.

In one group, the tiny Caribbean island, the least populous country to ever play at a World Cup, will meet four-time winners Germany. Cape Verde, with a resident count of around 600,000, will face Euro winners and former champions Spain.

The Middle Eastern side, after decades of trying, meets defending champions Argentina and Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be led by a 2006 World Cup winner against Cristiano Ronaldo's Selecao das Quinas.

What About the Knockout Stage?

If 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 extremely interesting, most notably with a potential tie between past winners Germany and the French.

On the other side of the draw, eyes will be drawn to the last eight, where historic adversaries the Argentine and the Portuguese are set for a possible clash. It would require both Messi's team and Ronaldo's side finishing top and navigating the initial playoffs.

For England, a game against tournament hosts seems the probable first knockout game. Should Scotland are able to get through, Samurai Blue or the Netherlands could await in what would be their first ever World Cup playoff match.