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Next summer's global tournament is finally starting to feel tangible. While supporters can finally start planning their schedules, Friday's ceremony in Washington DC was not short of major talking points.

Long before the iconic group performed with their classic hit, we were left analyzing a group stage that includes a clash between two of the world's best strikers and a playoff bracket that could produce a highly anticipated meeting between legends of the sport.

The Ceremony That Seemed Like It Would Go On Forever

Numerous viewers tuned in keen to find out their national side's initial opponents. However, despite the fact supporters are used to such ceremonies taking some time, this was extraordinary.

After acts by a pop star and Nicole Scherzinger, speeches from dignitaries and football's governing body, plus numerous montages and discussions, it finally seemed to begin almost 60 minutes later. That was an illusion.

Cue more interviews and performances, before the real selection process eventually began nearly an hour and a half after the glitzy event initially started. The draw itself then took 59 minutes to finish.

Moving On to the Actual Football...

Next summer's World Cup will be the largest in the competition's history, with a record 48 teams and a first-ever additional knockout round. However, this expansion has perhaps led to the group stage being slightly diluted in quality.

There are hardly any fixtures between the traditional powerhouses. England's game against their 2018 semi-final opponents is the biggest theoretically. That is the sole opening-round game featuring two teams ranked in the top 10.

Brazil versus Morocco is the next best. The Netherlands have the most difficult draw by official standings, while Die Mannschaft—grouped with Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao—have the weakest. Nevertheless, interesting matches remain.

Two Goal Machines Face Off

Phenomenal striker Erling Haaland will get a crack at his major international competition next summer. The Manchester City forward scored 16 times in eight matches to drag his country to their initial berth since 1998.

Few have managed to come close to the 25-year-old's ridiculous goalscoring feats—but someone who has is scheduled to come up against him in the last match of group games. Along with Senegal, The Nordic side have been drawn against Kylian Mbappe's Les Bleus.

This means the top marksmen in the English top flight and La Liga will clash for the first time in on the global stage. Expect goals. Plenty of scoring.

We Meet Again

El Tri 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 most famous for a thunderous second-half strike.

Another notable group game will see France again come up against the Senegalese, who stunned the then-world champions back in the 2002 World Cup. On that opening night, a then-unknown player outshone France's galaxy of stars to score the winning goal.

Fantasy Fixtures for the First-Timers

Four new nations have taken advantage of the expanded World Cup to reach the tournament for the first time. But, awaiting them are past winners, European champions and Copa America winners.

In one group, Curacao, the smallest nation to ever play at a World Cup, will take on four-time winners Die Mannschaft. The island nation, with a resident count of around half a million, will face European champions and former champions La Roja.

The Middle Eastern side, after 40 years of trying, will face defending champions Argentina and Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be guided by a former champion against the Portuguese icon's Selecao das Quinas.

And Then Comes the Knockout Stage?

If all the favorites progress from their groups, we shouldn't have to wait for the heavyweights to collide. The last 16 is where things could get really tasty, most notably with a potential tie between former champions Germany and France.

On the opposite half of the draw, eyes will be drawn to the quarter-final stage, where historic adversaries Messi and the Portuguese are lined up for a possible showdown. It would depend on both Argentina and Portugal winning their groups and squeezing through the early knockout rounds.

Regarding the Three Lions, a match with tournament hosts seems the most likely first knockout game. Should Scotland progress, Japan or the Netherlands could be waiting in what would be their first ever World Cup playoff match.