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The upcoming World Cup is at last starting to feel very real. While supporters are now able to begin planning their schedules, Friday's ceremony in Washington DC 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 that includes a showdown between two of the world's best forwards and a knockout stage that could produce a truly mouthwatering encounter between two greats of the sport.

The Draw That Seemed Like It Would Go On Forever

Many people tuned in keen to find out their team's initial opponents. However, even though fans are used to these draws being lengthy, this one set a new standard.

Following performances by Robbie Williams and a former Pussycat Doll, speeches from dignitaries and football's governing body, plus countless montages and interviews, it finally seemed to get going almost 60 minutes later. Or so we thought.

This led to more interviews and performances, before the actual draw eventually began nearly an hour and a half after the star-studded show first kicked off. The selection then required almost an hour to complete.

On to the Actual Football...

Next summer's tournament will be the biggest in history, with a unprecedented number of nations 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' game against their 2018 semi-final opponents is the most significant on paper. That is the only group fixture featuring two teams ranked in the top 10.

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

A Pair of Prolific Scorers Face Off

Generational goalgetter Norway's star will get a crack at his first major tournament in the upcoming finals. The Premier League striker scored 16 times in qualifying matches to drag his country to their initial berth since 1998.

Hardly any have been able to rival the 25-year-old's incredible goalscoring feats—except for one player is set to face him in the final round of group games. Along with Senegal, Norway have been paired with Kylian Mbappe's Les Bleus.

This means the leading scorers in the Premier League and Spain's division will go head-to-head for the initial occasion in international football. Anticipate goals. Lots of goals.

A Familiar Foe

Mexico will take on Bafana Bafana in the opening match—and not for the first time. The two teams also opened the 2010 edition. That match, ending 1-1, is most famous for a thunderous goal.

Another eye-catching fixture will see France once more face Senegal, who stunned the then-world champions back in the 2002 World Cup. On that first day, a then-unknown player outshone France's galaxy of stars to score the decisive goal.

Fantasy Fixtures for the Debutants

Four new nations have benefited from the larger World Cup to qualify for the tournament for the first time. But, awaiting them are past winners, continental title-holders and Copa America winners.

In one group, Curacao, the least populous country to ever feature in a World Cup, will take on multiple winners Die Mannschaft. The island nation, with a resident count of around half a million, will face European champions and former champions La Roja.

The Middle Eastern side, after 40 years of trying, meets title-holders La Albiceleste and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be guided by a former champion against the Portuguese icon's Portugal.

And Then Comes the Knockout Stage?

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

On the opposite half of the draw, eyes will be fixed on the quarter-final stage, where historic adversaries Messi and the Portuguese are lined up for a potential showdown. It would depend on both Argentina and Ronaldo's side winning their groups and navigating the early knockout rounds.

For England, a match with tournament hosts seems the probable last-32 tie. Should the Scots are able to get through, Japan or the Netherlands could be waiting in what would be their historic World Cup knockout fixture.