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The upcoming global tournament is finally beginning to seem tangible. Although supporters can finally start planning their schedules, the recent draw in the US capital was not short of major talking points.

Well before the Village People performed with YMCA, observers were analyzing a group stage that includes a showdown between football's top forwards and a playoff bracket promising a truly mouthwatering meeting between two greats of the sport.

The Draw That Felt Like It Would Go On Forever

Many people tuned in keen to find out their team's group stage opponents. But, despite the fact fans are accustomed to such ceremonies being lengthy, this was extraordinary.

Following acts by Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger, addresses from political leaders and Fifa officials, plus countless montages and discussions, it eventually appeared to begin almost 60 minutes later. Or so we thought.

This led to more interviews and performances, before the real selection process eventually began around 90 minutes after the glitzy event first kicked off. The selection then required almost an hour to complete.

Moving On to the Football Itself...

The upcoming tournament will be the largest in history, with a unprecedented number of nations and a first-ever additional knockout round. Yet, this increase in size has maybe resulted in the initial phase being somewhat weakened in overall strength.

There are very few fixtures between the traditional powerhouses. England's match with their 2018 semi-final opponents is the biggest on paper. That is the only group fixture featuring two teams ranked in the top 10.

The Selecao versus Morocco is the second most intriguing. The Netherlands have the toughest group by official standings, while Germany—grouped with less-fancied opponents—have the easiest on paper. But, compelling contests remain.

A Pair of Goal Machines Go Head-to-Head

Generational goalgetter Norway's star will make his debut in his major international competition in the upcoming finals. The Manchester City striker netted 16 goals in eight matches to single-handedly carry his nation to their initial berth since 1998.

Few have managed to come close to the 25-year-old's ridiculous goalscoring feats—except for one player is set to face him in the final round of the group stage. Together with Senegal, The Nordic side have been drawn against Kylian Mbappe's France.

This means the leading scorers in the English top flight and Spain's division will clash for the first time in international football. Expect goals. Lots of goals.

We Meet Again

Mexico will take on South Africa 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 second-half strike.

Another notable group game will see France once more face Senegal, who stunned the reigning title-holders back in 2002. On that first day, a future Fulham midfielder upstaged France's cast of star names to score the winning goal.

Fantasy Fixtures for the First-Timers

Four new nations have benefited from the larger World Cup to reach the tournament for the first time. However, awaiting them are former world champions, European champions and Copa America winners.

In one group, Curacao, the least populous country to ever feature in a World Cup, will take on multiple winners Germany. The island nation, with a population of around half a million, will face European champions and former champions La Roja.

Jordan, after decades of trying, meets title-holders Argentina and Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be guided by a former champion against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal.

What About the Knockout Stage?

Assuming 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 extremely interesting, most notably with a possible matchup between former champions the Germans and the French.

On the opposite half of the bracket, eyes will be drawn to the last eight, where historic adversaries Messi and Ronaldo are set for a potential clash. It would require both Messi's team and Ronaldo's side finishing top and navigating the early knockout rounds.

For England, a game against co-hosts Mexico seems the probable last-32 tie. Should the Scots are able to get through, Samurai Blue or the Dutch could await in what would be their first ever World Cup playoff match.