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The upcoming global tournament is finally starting to feel very real. Although fans can finally start marking their calendars, the recent draw 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 featuring a clash between football's top strikers and a playoff bracket that could produce a truly mouthwatering encounter between legends of the game.

The Draw That Felt Like It Would Go On Forever

Many people tuned in eager to discover their team's initial opponents. But, even though fans are accustomed to such ceremonies taking some time, this was extraordinary.

After acts by a pop star and a former Pussycat Doll, speeches from dignitaries and football's governing body, plus numerous video packages and discussions, it finally seemed to begin almost 60 minutes later. Or so we thought.

This led to further commentary and entertainment, before the real selection process finally commenced around 90 minutes after the star-studded show initially started. The selection then required almost an hour to complete.

Moving On to the Football Itself...

Next summer's tournament will be the biggest in the competition's history, with a record 48 teams and a first-ever additional knockout round. Yet, this expansion has maybe resulted in the initial phase being slightly diluted in quality.

There are hardly any fixtures between the traditional powerhouses. England's match with their 2018 semi-final opponents is the most significant theoretically. That is the only group fixture with two teams inside the world's elite.

Brazil versus Morocco is the second most intriguing. The Netherlands have the toughest group by Fifa world rankings, while Germany—drawn against less-fancied opponents—have the easiest on paper. Nevertheless, interesting matches still await.

Two Goal Machines Go Head-to-Head

Phenomenal striker Erling Haaland will get a crack at his major international competition in the upcoming finals. The Premier League forward netted 16 goals in qualifying matches to drag his nation to their first appearance since 1998.

Few have been able to come close to the youngster's ridiculous scoring records—but someone who has is scheduled to come up against him in the final round of the group stage. Along with The Lions of Teranga, Norway have been drawn against Kylian Mbappe's Les Bleus.

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 net-bulgers. Lots of goals.

A Familiar Foe

El Tri will face South Africa in the opening match—repeating history. The sides also kicked off the tournament in South Africa. That game, ending 1-1, is best remembered for a rasping second-half strike.

Another notable group game will see France once more face the Senegalese, who shocked the reigning title-holders back in 2002. On that first day, a future Fulham midfielder outshone France's galaxy of stars to score the decisive goal.

Fantasy Fixtures for the Debutants

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have benefited from the expanded World Cup to reach the finals for the first occasion. But, awaiting them are past winners, continental title-holders and South American champions.

In one group, Curacao, the least populous country to ever play at a World Cup, will take on multiple winners Germany. Cape Verde, with a population of around 600,000, will face Euro winners and former champions Spain.

Jordan, after decades of trying, will face title-holders La Albiceleste and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be guided by a 2006 World Cup winner against Cristiano Ronaldo's Selecao das Quinas.

And Then Comes the Playoff Rounds?

If all the favorites make it safely through their groups, fans may not wait long for the big hitters to meet. The last 16 is where things could get really tasty, most notably with a possible matchup between former champions Germany and the French.

On the other side of the draw, eyes will be fixed on the last eight, where old rivals the Argentine and the Portuguese are lined up for a possible clash. It would depend on both Argentina and Portugal winning their groups and squeezing through the early knockout rounds.

Regarding the Three Lions, a game against co-hosts Mexico seems the most likely first knockout game. Should Scotland are able to get through, Samurai Blue or the Dutch could await in what would be their historic World Cup playoff match.