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The upcoming global tournament is at last beginning to seem tangible. Although supporters are now able to begin marking their calendars, the recent ceremony in Washington DC was not short of major talking points.

Well before the iconic group took to the stage with YMCA, we were left picking the bones out of a group stage featuring a clash between football's top strikers and a playoff bracket that could produce a truly mouthwatering encounter between two greats of the sport.

The Draw That Seemed Like It May Never End

Numerous viewers logged on eager to find out their national side's initial opponents. But, despite the fact fans are accustomed to these draws being lengthy, this one set a new standard.

Following performances by a pop star and a former Pussycat Doll, speeches from political leaders and football's governing body, plus countless montages and interviews, it finally seemed to get going nearly an hour later. That was an illusion.

Cue more interviews and entertainment, before the actual draw finally commenced around 90 minutes after the glitzy event first kicked off. The draw itself then took 59 minutes to complete.

On to the Actual Football...

The upcoming tournament will be the biggest in the competition's history, with a record 48 teams and a first-ever additional knockout round. Yet, this increase in size has perhaps led to the group stage being slightly diluted in quality.

There are very few matches between the traditional powerhouses. England's game against their 2018 semi-final opponents is the biggest theoretically. That is the only group fixture featuring two teams inside the world's elite.

The Selecao versus The Atlas Lions is the next best. The Netherlands have the most difficult draw by official standings, while Die Mannschaft—drawn against Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao—have the easiest on paper. Nevertheless, compelling contests still await.

Two Goal Machines Go Head-to-Head

Generational goalgetter Erling Haaland will get a crack at his first major tournament next summer. The Manchester City striker scored 16 times in qualifying 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—except for one player is set to face him in the final round of group games. Along with Senegal, The Nordic side 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 initial occasion in on the global stage. Expect goals. Lots of goals.

A Familiar Foe

Mexico will take on Bafana Bafana in the first game—and not for the first time. The two teams also kicked off the tournament in South Africa. That game, ending 1-1, is most famous for a rasping goal.

Another notable fixture will see France again come up against Senegal, who stunned the reigning title-holders back in 2002. On that first day, a then-unknown player outshone France's cast of star names to score the decisive goal.

Dream Ties for the First-Timers

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have benefited from the larger World Cup to qualify for the tournament for the first occasion. But, standing in their way are former world champions, continental title-holders and South American champions.

In one group, the tiny Caribbean island, the least populous country to ever play at a World Cup, will meet multiple winners Die Mannschaft. The island nation, with a resident count of around half a million, will face European champions and 2010 World Cup winners La Roja.

Jordan, after 40 years of trying, will face defending champions Argentina and Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be led by a 2006 World Cup winner against the Portuguese icon's Portugal.

And Then Comes the Playoff Rounds?

If all the top teams progress from their groups, we shouldn't have to wait for the big hitters to collide. The last 16 is where things could get really tasty, most notably with a potential tie between former champions the Germans and the French.

On the opposite half of the bracket, eyes will be fixed on the quarter-final stage, where historic adversaries Messi and Ronaldo are set for a potential clash. It would require both Messi's team and Portugal winning their groups and squeezing through the early knockout rounds.

For England, a match with tournament hosts seems the probable first knockout game. Should Scotland are able to get through, Samurai Blue or the Netherlands could be waiting in what would be their historic World Cup knockout fixture.