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Next summer's global tournament is finally starting to feel tangible. While supporters are now able to begin marking their calendars, Friday's ceremony in Washington DC was not short of significant headlines.

Well before the iconic group took to the stage with YMCA, we were left analyzing a group stage featuring a showdown between football's top forwards and a knockout stage that could produce a truly mouthwatering meeting between two greats of the game.

The Ceremony That Seemed Like It Would Go On Forever

Many people logged on eager to discover their team's group stage fixtures. However, even though fans are used to these draws taking some time, this one set a new standard.

Following performances by Robbie Williams and a former Pussycat Doll, addresses from dignitaries and Fifa officials, plus numerous montages and discussions, it finally seemed to get going nearly an hour later. Or so we thought.

This led to more interviews and entertainment, before the actual draw finally commenced nearly an hour and a half after the star-studded show first kicked off. The draw itself then took 59 minutes to complete.

Moving On to the Football Itself...

The upcoming tournament will be the biggest in the competition's history, with a record 48 teams 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 traditional powerhouses. The Three Lions' match with Croatia is the most significant on paper. That is the only group fixture with two teams inside the world's elite.

Brazil versus Morocco is the second most intriguing. The Dutch have the toughest group by Fifa world rankings, while Germany—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 Norway's star will get a crack at his major international competition next summer. The Manchester City forward netted 16 goals in qualifying matches to single-handedly carry his nation to their first appearance since 1998.

Few have been able to rival the 25-year-old's ridiculous goalscoring feats—but someone who has is scheduled to face him in the final round of group games. Along with The Lions of Teranga, Norway have been drawn against 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 on the global stage. Anticipate goals. Lots of goals.

We Meet Again

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

Another eye-catching group game will see the French again come up against Senegal, who stunned the then-world champions back in the 2002 World Cup. On that first day, a then-unknown player upstaged France's cast of star names to score the winning goal.

Dream Ties for the Debutants

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have benefited from the larger World Cup to reach the tournament for the first occasion. However, standing in their way are past winners, European champions 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. The island nation, with a population of around half a million, will face Euro winners and 2010 World Cup winners La Roja.

The Middle Eastern side, after decades of trying, will face defending champions La Albiceleste and Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be guided by a 2006 World Cup winner against Cristiano Ronaldo's Selecao das Quinas.

What About the Playoff Rounds?

If all the favorites progress from their groups, fans may not wait long for the heavyweights to meet. The round of 32 is where things could get really tasty, most notably with a potential tie between former champions the Germans and the French.

On the other side of the bracket, eyes will be drawn to the quarter-final stage, where historic adversaries Messi and Ronaldo are lined up for a potential clash. It would depend on both Messi's team and Ronaldo's side winning their groups and navigating the initial playoffs.

For England, a game against tournament hosts seems the probable first knockout game. And, if Scotland progress, Samurai Blue or the Dutch could await in what would be their first ever World Cup playoff match.