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Next summer's World Cup is at last beginning to seem very real. While fans can finally start marking their calendars, the recent draw in the US capital was not short of major talking points.

Long before the iconic group performed with their classic hit, we were left picking the bones out of a group stage featuring a clash between football's top strikers and a playoff bracket promising a highly anticipated encounter between two greats of the sport.

The Ceremony That Seemed Like It May Never End

Many people logged on eager to discover their team's group stage fixtures. But, despite the fact fans are accustomed to these draws being lengthy, this one set a new standard.

After performances by a pop star and Nicole Scherzinger, addresses from dignitaries and football's governing body, plus numerous video packages and discussions, it finally seemed to get going nearly an hour later. That was an illusion.

Cue more interviews and entertainment, before the real selection process eventually began around 90 minutes after the glitzy event first kicked off. The selection then took 59 minutes to finish.

Moving On to the Actual Football...

The upcoming tournament will be the largest in the competition's history, with a unprecedented number of nations and a first-ever additional knockout round. Yet, this expansion has perhaps led to the initial phase being somewhat weakened in quality.

There are hardly any fixtures between the major nations. England's match with Croatia is the most significant on paper. That is the sole opening-round game featuring two teams ranked in the top 10.

Brazil versus The Atlas Lions is the next best. The Dutch have the most difficult draw by official standings, while Germany—grouped with less-fancied opponents—have the easiest on paper. Nevertheless, interesting matches still await.

A Pair of Prolific Scorers Go Head-to-Head

Phenomenal striker Erling Haaland will make his debut in his first major tournament next summer. The Premier League forward netted 16 goals in qualifying matches to drag his country to their initial berth since 1998.

Hardly any have managed to come close to the 25-year-old's incredible scoring records—except for one player is set to face him in the last match 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 Premier League and Spain's division will go head-to-head for the initial occasion in on the global stage. Expect goals. Plenty of scoring.

A Familiar Foe

El Tri will face South Africa in the first game—repeating history. The two teams also opened the tournament in South Africa. That match, ending 1-1, is best remembered for a rasping goal.

Another eye-catching fixture will see France once more face the Senegalese, who stunned the reigning title-holders back in 2002. On that first day, a then-unknown player upstaged 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 qualify for the tournament for the first occasion. 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 four-time winners Germany. Cape Verde, with a resident count of around half a million, will face Euro winners and former champions Spain.

Jordan, after decades of trying, meets defending champions La Albiceleste and Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be led by a former champion against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal.

What About the Knockout Stage?

If all the favorites progress from their groups, we shouldn't have to wait for the big hitters to collide. The round of 32 is where things could get extremely interesting, most notably with a possible matchup between past winners Germany and the French.

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

For England, a game against tournament hosts seems the probable first knockout game. And, if the Scots are able to get through, Samurai Blue or the Netherlands could be waiting in what would be their first ever World Cup knockout fixture.