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Next summer's global tournament is at last starting to feel tangible. Although supporters are now able to begin marking their calendars, the recent ceremony in the US capital was not short of significant headlines.

Well before the Village People performed with their classic hit, observers were picking the bones out of a opening round that includes a clash between two of the world's best forwards and a playoff bracket promising a highly anticipated encounter between legends of the game.

The Ceremony That Seemed Like It May Never End

Many people tuned in keen to find out their team's group stage opponents. But, even though supporters are accustomed to these draws taking some time, this one set a new standard.

After performances by Robbie Williams and a former Pussycat Doll, addresses from political leaders and Fifa officials, plus numerous video packages and discussions, it finally seemed to get going almost 60 minutes later. That was an illusion.

This led to more interviews and entertainment, before the actual draw eventually began nearly an hour and a half after the glitzy event initially started. The selection then required almost an hour to finish.

On to the Actual Football...

The upcoming tournament will be the largest in history, with a record 48 teams and a first-ever additional knockout round. Yet, this increase in size has maybe resulted in the group stage being slightly diluted in quality.

There are hardly any fixtures between the major nations. The Three Lions' match with their 2018 semi-final opponents is the biggest on paper. That is the only group fixture featuring two teams inside the world's elite.

The Selecao versus Morocco is the next best. The Dutch have the toughest group by Fifa world rankings, while Germany—drawn against less-fancied opponents—have the weakest. Nevertheless, interesting matches remain.

A Pair of Prolific Scorers Face Off

Phenomenal striker Norway's star will make his debut in his major international competition next summer. The Premier League forward scored 16 times in eight matches to single-handedly carry his nation to their first appearance since 1998.

Few have managed to rival the youngster's ridiculous scoring records—except for one player is scheduled to face him in the final round of the group stage. Together with Senegal, The Nordic side have been paired with the French superstar's Les Bleus.

This means the leading scorers in the English top flight and Spain's division will clash for the first time in on the global stage. Anticipate goals. Plenty of scoring.

A Familiar Foe

El Tri will face South Africa in the opening match—repeating history. The sides also opened the 2010 edition. That match, ending 1-1, is best remembered for a thunderous goal.

Another eye-catching group game will see the French again come up against the Senegalese, who stunned the then-world champions back in 2002. On that opening night, a then-unknown player outshone France's cast of star names to score the decisive goal.

Dream Ties for the Debutants

Four new nations have taken advantage of the larger World Cup to reach the tournament for the first occasion. But, standing in their way 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 four-time winners Germany. Cape Verde, with a resident count of around 600,000, will face European champions and former champions Spain.

Jordan, after decades of trying, meets defending champions La Albiceleste and Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be guided by a former champion against the Portuguese icon's Portugal.

What About the Playoff Rounds?

If all the favorites progress from their groups, fans may not wait long for the big hitters to meet. The round of 32 is where things could get extremely interesting, most notably with a possible matchup between former champions the Germans 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 potential clash. It would require both Argentina and Portugal winning their groups and navigating the early knockout rounds.

For England, a match with co-hosts Mexico seems the probable first knockout game. Should the Scots progress, Japan or the Dutch could be waiting in what would be their historic World Cup playoff match.