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Next summer's global tournament is at last starting to feel tangible. While supporters are now able to begin planning their schedules, Friday's ceremony in the US capital was not short of major talking points.

Well before the iconic group performed with YMCA, we were left analyzing a group stage that includes a showdown between football's top strikers and a knockout stage that could produce a highly anticipated encounter between two greats of the sport.

The Draw That Felt Like It May Never End

Numerous viewers logged on eager to find out their team's initial opponents. However, even though fans are accustomed to such ceremonies taking some time, this was extraordinary.

Following performances by Robbie Williams and a former Pussycat Doll, addresses from dignitaries and football's governing body, plus countless video packages and discussions, it eventually appeared to begin almost 60 minutes later. That was an illusion.

Cue further commentary and performances, before the real selection process eventually began around 90 minutes after the glitzy event initially started. The selection then required almost an hour to finish.

Moving On to the Football Itself...

Next summer's tournament will be the biggest in the competition's history, with a unprecedented number of nations and a new round of 32. However, this increase in size has perhaps led to the group stage being slightly diluted in overall strength.

There are hardly any fixtures between the traditional powerhouses. The Three Lions' game against their 2018 semi-final opponents is the biggest theoretically. That is the sole opening-round game with two teams ranked in the top 10.

Brazil versus The Atlas Lions is the next best. The Netherlands have the toughest group by Fifa world rankings, while Die Mannschaft—grouped with Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao—have the easiest on paper. But, interesting matches still await.

Two Prolific Scorers Face Off

Phenomenal striker Erling Haaland will make his debut in his major international competition next summer. The Premier League forward netted 16 goals in qualifying matches to drag his country to their initial berth since 1998.

Few have managed to rival the 25-year-old's ridiculous scoring records—except for one player is set to come up against him in the final round of group games. Along with Senegal, Norway have been paired with Kylian Mbappe's France.

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

We Meet Again

El Tri will take on South Africa in the opening match—repeating history. The two teams also opened the 2010 edition. That match, which finished 1-1, is most famous for a rasping second-half strike.

Another eye-catching group game will see the French once more face the Senegalese, who stunned the then-world champions back in the 2002 World Cup. On that first day, a future Fulham midfielder outshone France's galaxy of stars to score the decisive goal.

Fantasy Fixtures for the First-Timers

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have taken advantage of the expanded World Cup to reach the finals for the first time. But, standing in their way are former world champions, continental title-holders and Copa America winners.

In one group, the tiny Caribbean island, the smallest nation to ever feature in 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 40 years of trying, meets title-holders La Albiceleste and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be led by a former champion against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal.

What About the Knockout Stage?

If all the top teams make it safely through their groups, fans may not wait long for the heavyweights to meet. The last 16 is where things could get really tasty, most notably with a possible matchup between past winners the Germans and the French.

On the opposite half of the draw, eyes will be drawn to the quarter-final stage, where historic adversaries the Argentine and the Portuguese are set for a possible clash. It would depend on both Argentina and Ronaldo's side winning their groups and navigating the initial playoffs.

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