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The upcoming World Cup is finally beginning to seem tangible. While fans are now able to begin planning their schedules, the recent draw in Washington DC was not short of significant headlines.

Well before the Village People performed with YMCA, observers were analyzing a group stage featuring a clash between football's top strikers and a knockout stage promising a highly anticipated encounter between two greats of the game.

The Ceremony That Felt Like It May Never End

Numerous viewers logged on eager to find out their team's initial opponents. However, even though supporters 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 numerous video packages and discussions, it eventually appeared to begin almost 60 minutes later. Or so we thought.

Cue more interviews and performances, before the real selection process eventually began nearly an hour and a half after the star-studded show first kicked off. The selection then took 59 minutes to complete.

On to the Actual Football...

The upcoming tournament will be the largest in the competition's history, with a record 48 teams and a first-ever additional knockout round. Yet, this increase in size has maybe resulted in the initial phase being somewhat weakened in quality.

There are hardly any fixtures between the traditional powerhouses. England's game against Croatia is the most significant on paper. That is the only group fixture with two teams inside the world's elite.

The Selecao versus The Atlas Lions is the next best. The Dutch have the toughest group by official standings, while Germany—grouped with less-fancied opponents—have the weakest. But, interesting matches remain.

Two Goal Machines Face Off

Generational goalgetter Erling Haaland will make his debut in his first major tournament in the upcoming finals. The Manchester City forward netted 16 goals in qualifying matches to drag his nation to their initial berth since 1998.

Hardly any have managed to rival the youngster's ridiculous goalscoring feats—except for one player is set to come up against him in the final round of group games. Together with Senegal, The Nordic side have been paired with Kylian Mbappe's Les Bleus.

This means the leading scorers in the English top flight and Spain's division will go head-to-head for the initial occasion in on the global stage. Expect goals. Lots of goals.

We Meet Again

Mexico will face Bafana Bafana in the first game—and not for the first time. The sides also kicked off the tournament in South Africa. That game, ending 1-1, is most famous for a rasping second-half strike.

Another notable fixture will see France again come up against Senegal, who stunned the reigning title-holders back in the 2002 World Cup. On that first day, a future Fulham midfielder outshone France's galaxy of stars to score the winning goal.

Fantasy Fixtures for the Debutants

Four new nations have taken advantage of the larger World Cup to qualify for the finals for the first time. But, awaiting them are former world champions, continental title-holders and South American champions.

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.

Jordan, after decades of trying, meets title-holders 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 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 really tasty, most notably with a potential tie between past winners the Germans and the French.

On the other side of the bracket, eyes will be fixed on the quarter-final stage, where old rivals the Argentine and Ronaldo are lined up for a potential clash. It would depend on both Argentina and Portugal finishing top and squeezing through the early knockout rounds.

Regarding the Three Lions, a game against tournament hosts seems the most likely last-32 tie. And, if the Scots are able to get through, Samurai Blue or the Netherlands could await in what would be their historic World Cup playoff match.