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The upcoming global tournament is finally beginning to seem very real. While fans are now able to begin planning their schedules, the recent ceremony in Washington DC was full of major talking points.

Long before the Village People took to the stage with their classic hit, we were left analyzing a opening round that includes a showdown between football's top strikers and a knockout stage that could produce a highly anticipated encounter between legends of the game.

The Draw That Seemed Like It Would Go On Forever

Many people tuned in keen to discover their team's group stage fixtures. But, even though supporters are accustomed to such ceremonies being lengthy, this was extraordinary.

After performances by a pop star and Nicole Scherzinger, speeches from dignitaries and football's governing body, plus numerous video packages and interviews, it eventually appeared to get going almost 60 minutes later. That was an illusion.

Cue more interviews and entertainment, before the real selection process finally commenced nearly an hour and a half after the glitzy event initially started. The draw itself then took 59 minutes to finish.

Moving On to the Football Itself...

The upcoming tournament will be the biggest in history, with a unprecedented number of nations and a first-ever additional knockout round. However, this increase in size has maybe resulted in the group stage being slightly diluted in overall strength.

There are hardly any matches between the major nations. England's match with Croatia is the most significant on paper. That is the sole opening-round game featuring two teams ranked in the top 10.

Brazil versus The Atlas Lions is the next best. The Netherlands have the most difficult draw by official standings, while Germany—grouped with Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao—have the weakest. Nevertheless, interesting matches remain.

Two Goal Machines Face Off

Generational goalgetter Erling Haaland will get a crack at his major international competition next summer. The Manchester City forward scored 16 times in qualifying matches to drag his nation to their initial berth since 1998.

Hardly any have been able to come close to the 25-year-old's ridiculous scoring records—but someone who has is scheduled to face him in the last match of the group stage. Together with Senegal, Norway have been paired with Kylian Mbappe's France.

This means the top marksmen in the Premier League and La Liga will go head-to-head for the initial occasion in on the global stage. Anticipate goals. Lots of goals.

A Familiar Foe

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

Another notable fixture will see France again come up against the Senegalese, who shocked the reigning title-holders back in 2002. On that first day, a then-unknown player upstaged France's galaxy of stars to score the decisive goal.

Dream Ties for the Debutants

Four new nations have taken advantage of the expanded World Cup to reach the tournament for the first occasion. However, standing in their way are past winners, European champions and Copa America winners.

In one group, the tiny Caribbean island, the least populous country to ever feature in a World Cup, will take on multiple winners Die Mannschaft. Cape Verde, with a resident count of around 600,000, will face European champions and former champions La Roja.

Jordan, after 40 years of trying, meets title-holders La Albiceleste and Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be led by a 2006 World Cup winner against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal.

What About the Knockout Stage?

If all the top teams make it safely through their groups, we shouldn't have to wait for the heavyweights to meet. The last 16 is where things could get extremely interesting, most notably with a possible matchup between former champions Germany and France.

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

For England, a game against tournament hosts seems the most likely last-32 tie. And, if the Scots are able to get through, Japan or the Dutch could await in what would be their first ever World Cup knockout fixture.