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Next summer's global tournament is at last beginning to seem tangible. While fans are now able to begin marking their calendars, Friday's draw in the US capital was full of significant headlines.

Long before the iconic group performed with YMCA, we were left picking the bones out of a opening round featuring a showdown between football's top strikers and a playoff bracket that could produce a truly mouthwatering encounter between two greats of the game.

The Draw That Felt Like It Would Go On Forever

Numerous viewers tuned in eager to discover their team's initial fixtures. But, despite the fact fans are used to such ceremonies being lengthy, this was extraordinary.

Following acts by a pop star and Nicole Scherzinger, speeches from political leaders and football's governing body, plus numerous montages and discussions, it finally seemed to get going nearly an hour later. That was an illusion.

This led to further commentary and entertainment, before the actual draw finally commenced nearly an hour and a half after the glitzy event initially started. The selection then took 59 minutes to finish.

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. However, this increase in size has maybe resulted in the initial phase being somewhat weakened in quality.

There are hardly any fixtures between the traditional powerhouses. England's match with 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 Dutch have the toughest group by Fifa world rankings, while Die Mannschaft—grouped with less-fancied opponents—have the weakest. Nevertheless, compelling contests remain.

Two Prolific Scorers Go Head-to-Head

Phenomenal striker Erling Haaland will make his debut in his first major tournament next summer. The Premier League forward netted 16 goals in eight matches to single-handedly carry his nation to their first appearance since 1998.

Hardly any have been able to come close to the youngster's ridiculous goalscoring feats—but someone who has is set to face him in the final round of group games. Along with Senegal, The Nordic side have been drawn against the French superstar's France.

This means the leading scorers in the Premier League and Spain's division will clash for the initial occasion in on the global stage. Anticipate goals. Lots of goals.

A Familiar Foe

El Tri will face South Africa in the opening match—and not for the first time. The two teams also opened the 2010 edition. That game, which finished 1-1, is most famous for a thunderous second-half strike.

Another notable fixture will see the French once more face Senegal, who stunned the then-world champions back in 2002. On that opening night, a then-unknown player upstaged France's cast of star names to score the decisive goal.

Dream Ties for the Debutants

Four new nations have benefited from the expanded World Cup to reach the finals for the first occasion. But, awaiting them are former world champions, 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 four-time winners Die Mannschaft. The island nation, with a population of around half a million, will face Euro winners and 2010 World Cup winners Spain.

Jordan, after decades of trying, meets title-holders La Albiceleste and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be led by a 2006 World Cup winner against Cristiano Ronaldo's Selecao das Quinas.

And Then Comes the Knockout Stage?

Assuming all the favorites progress from their groups, we shouldn't have to wait for the heavyweights to meet. The last 16 is where things could get really tasty, most notably with a potential tie between former champions Germany and the French.

On the other side 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 possible showdown. It would require both Messi's team and Portugal finishing top and navigating the initial playoffs.

For England, a match with tournament hosts seems the probable last-32 tie. Should Scotland progress, Samurai Blue or the Netherlands could await in what would be their first ever World Cup playoff match.