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The upcoming global tournament is finally beginning to seem very real. While fans are now able to begin marking their calendars, the recent draw in Washington DC was not short of major talking points.

Well before the iconic group took to the stage with their classic hit, observers were picking the bones out of a opening round that includes a showdown between two of the world's best forwards and a playoff bracket that could produce a truly mouthwatering encounter between two greats of the game.

The Ceremony That Felt Like It May Never End

Many people tuned in keen to discover their national side's initial fixtures. However, despite the fact supporters are accustomed to these draws being lengthy, this was extraordinary.

After performances by Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger, speeches from dignitaries and Fifa officials, plus numerous video packages and interviews, it eventually appeared to begin almost 60 minutes later. Or so we thought.

Cue further commentary and performances, 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 complete.

On to the Actual Football...

Next summer's World Cup will be the biggest in history, with a record 48 teams and a first-ever additional knockout round. Yet, this expansion has perhaps led to the initial phase being slightly diluted in overall strength.

There are very few fixtures between the traditional powerhouses. The Three Lions' game against their 2018 semi-final opponents is the most significant on paper. That is the sole opening-round game with two teams ranked in the top 10.

The Selecao versus Morocco is the second most intriguing. The Netherlands have the most difficult draw by Fifa world rankings, while Germany—drawn against Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao—have the weakest. But, interesting matches still await.

A Pair of Prolific Scorers Face Off

Generational goalgetter Erling Haaland will get a crack at his major international competition next summer. The Premier League forward scored 16 times in eight matches to single-handedly carry his nation to their first appearance since 1998.

Hardly any have managed to rival the 25-year-old's incredible scoring records—but someone who has is scheduled to face him in the final round of the group stage. Along with Senegal, Norway have been paired with the French superstar's France.

This means the leading scorers in the Premier League and Spain's division will clash for the first time in on the global stage. Anticipate goals. Plenty of scoring.

A Familiar Foe

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

Another eye-catching fixture will see the French once more face the Senegalese, who stunned the reigning title-holders back in the 2002 World Cup. On that opening night, a future Fulham midfielder upstaged France's cast of star names to score the decisive goal.

Fantasy Fixtures for the First-Timers

Four new nations have taken advantage of the expanded World Cup to qualify for the finals for the first time. However, standing in their way are former world champions, continental title-holders and Copa America winners.

In one group, Curacao, the least populous country to ever play at a World Cup, will meet multiple winners Die Mannschaft. Cape Verde, with a population of around 600,000, will face European champions and 2010 World Cup winners Spain.

The Middle Eastern side, after decades of trying, meets title-holders Argentina and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be led by a former champion against Cristiano Ronaldo's Selecao das Quinas.

What About the Playoff Rounds?

Assuming all the top teams progress from their groups, we shouldn't have to wait for the big hitters to meet. The round of 32 is where things could get extremely interesting, most notably with a potential tie between former champions the Germans and France.

On the opposite half of the bracket, eyes will be drawn to the quarter-final stage, where historic adversaries Messi and Ronaldo are set for a possible showdown. It would require both Messi's team and Portugal winning their groups and navigating the initial playoffs.

For England, a game against co-hosts Mexico seems the probable first knockout game. Should the Scots are able to get through, Japan or the Netherlands could be waiting in what would be their historic World Cup playoff match.