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The upcoming global tournament is at last beginning to seem very real. While supporters are now able to begin marking their calendars, the recent draw in the US capital was not short of significant headlines.

Well before the Village People performed with their classic hit, we were left analyzing a group stage featuring a clash between two of the world's best strikers and a knockout stage that could produce a truly mouthwatering encounter between two greats of the sport.

The Draw That Felt Like It May Never End

Many people tuned in eager to find out their national side's initial opponents. However, despite the fact supporters are accustomed to these draws being lengthy, this was extraordinary.

After performances by Robbie Williams and a former Pussycat Doll, addresses from political leaders and Fifa officials, plus numerous video packages and interviews, it finally seemed to get going almost 60 minutes later. Or so we thought.

This led to further commentary and performances, before the actual draw finally commenced nearly an hour and a half after the star-studded show initially started. The selection then required almost an hour to complete.

On to the Actual Football...

The upcoming World Cup will be the largest in history, with a record 48 teams and a new round of 32. Yet, this expansion has perhaps led to the group stage being somewhat weakened in overall strength.

There are very few matches between the traditional powerhouses. England's game against their 2018 semi-final opponents is the most significant theoretically. That is the sole opening-round game featuring two teams inside the world's elite.

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

A Pair of Goal Machines Go Head-to-Head

Phenomenal striker Erling Haaland will get a crack at his major international competition next summer. The Premier League forward netted 16 goals in qualifying matches to drag his country to their initial berth since 1998.

Few have been able to come close to the youngster's incredible goalscoring feats—except for one player is scheduled to come up against him in the last match of group games. Together with Senegal, The Nordic side have been drawn against the French superstar's Les Bleus.

This means the top marksmen in the English top flight and La Liga will go head-to-head for the initial occasion in on the global stage. Anticipate goals. Lots of goals.

A Familiar Foe

Mexico will face Bafana Bafana in the first game—and not for the first time. The two teams also opened the 2010 edition. That match, ending 1-1, is best remembered for a thunderous goal.

Another notable group game will see France again come up against the Senegalese, who shocked the reigning title-holders back in the 2002 World Cup. On that opening night, a then-unknown player upstaged France's cast of star names to score the decisive goal.

Fantasy Fixtures for the Debutants

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have taken advantage of the expanded World Cup to reach the tournament for the first occasion. But, awaiting them are past winners, European champions and South American champions.

In one group, Curacao, the smallest nation to ever play at a World Cup, will meet multiple winners Germany. Cape Verde, with a population of around half a million, will face European champions and former champions Spain.

The Middle Eastern side, after 40 years of trying, will face title-holders Argentina and Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be guided by a former champion 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 heavyweights to meet. The round of 32 is where things could get really tasty, most notably with a possible matchup between past winners Germany and France.

On the other side of the bracket, eyes will be drawn to the quarter-final stage, where old rivals the Argentine and the Portuguese are lined up for a potential clash. It would require both Messi's team and Portugal winning their groups and navigating the early knockout rounds.

For England, a game against co-hosts Mexico seems the probable first knockout game. Should the Scots are able to get through, Japan or the Netherlands could await in what would be their historic World Cup knockout fixture.