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The upcoming World Cup is finally beginning to seem very real. Although supporters are now able to begin marking their calendars, Friday's draw in the US capital was full of major talking points.

Well before the Village People took to the stage with their classic hit, we were left picking the bones out of a group stage featuring a clash between two of the world's best strikers and a playoff bracket promising a highly anticipated encounter between legends of the sport.

The Ceremony That Felt Like It Would Go On Forever

Many people tuned in keen to discover their national side's group stage fixtures. However, despite the fact fans are accustomed to these draws taking some time, this one set a new standard.

After performances by a pop star and a former Pussycat Doll, speeches from political leaders and football's governing body, plus numerous video packages and discussions, it finally seemed to get going almost 60 minutes later. Or so we thought.

This led to more interviews and entertainment, before the actual draw eventually began around 90 minutes after the glitzy event initially started. The selection then took 59 minutes 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. However, this expansion has maybe resulted in the group stage being slightly diluted in overall strength.

There are very few matches between the traditional powerhouses. England's game against their 2018 semi-final opponents is the biggest theoretically. That is the only group fixture with two teams inside the world's elite.

Brazil versus The Atlas Lions is the next best. The Netherlands have the toughest group by Fifa world rankings, while Die Mannschaft—drawn against less-fancied opponents—have the weakest. Nevertheless, interesting matches still await.

Two Prolific Scorers Go Head-to-Head

Phenomenal striker Erling Haaland will get a crack at his major international competition in the upcoming finals. The Manchester City 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 goalscoring feats—but someone who has is scheduled to come up against him in the final round of the group stage. Together with The Lions of Teranga, The Nordic side have been drawn against the French superstar's Les Bleus.

This means the top marksmen in the Premier League and Spain's division will clash for the first time in international football. Anticipate goals. Plenty of scoring.

A Familiar Foe

El Tri will face South Africa in the first game—repeating history. The sides also kicked off the tournament in South Africa. That match, which finished 1-1, is best remembered for a thunderous second-half strike.

Another notable fixture will see France again come up against Senegal, who shocked the reigning title-holders back in 2002. On that opening night, a then-unknown player outshone France's galaxy of stars to score the decisive goal.

Dream Ties for the Debutants

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have taken advantage of the larger World Cup to reach the tournament for the first time. But, standing in their way are past winners, continental title-holders and South American champions.

In one group, Curacao, the smallest nation to ever play at a World Cup, will take on multiple winners Die Mannschaft. The island nation, with a resident count of around 600,000, will face Euro winners and former champions La Roja.

The Middle Eastern side, after 40 years of trying, meets defending champions La Albiceleste and Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be led by a 2006 World Cup winner against the Portuguese icon's Selecao das Quinas.

And Then Comes 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 potential tie between former champions the Germans and the French.

On the other side of the bracket, eyes will be fixed on the last eight, where old rivals Messi and the Portuguese are lined up for a possible clash. It would require both Messi's team and Portugal winning their groups and squeezing through the initial playoffs.

Regarding the Three Lions, a match with co-hosts Mexico seems the most likely last-32 tie. And, if Scotland progress, Samurai Blue or the Netherlands could await in what would be their historic World Cup playoff match.