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The upcoming World Cup is finally beginning to seem tangible. Although supporters can finally start planning their schedules, the recent ceremony in Washington DC was not short of major talking points.

Well before the iconic group took to the stage with their classic hit, observers were picking the bones out of a group stage that includes a clash between two of the world's best forwards and a playoff bracket promising a truly mouthwatering encounter between legends of the sport.

The Draw That Felt Like It May Never End

Numerous viewers logged on eager to discover their team's group stage opponents. However, even though fans are accustomed to these draws being lengthy, this was extraordinary.

Following acts by a pop star and a former Pussycat Doll, addresses from political leaders and football's governing body, plus countless montages and interviews, it eventually appeared to begin nearly an hour later. That was an illusion.

This led to further commentary and performances, before the real selection process finally commenced nearly an hour and a half after the star-studded show first kicked off. The draw itself then required almost an hour to complete.

On to the Actual Football...

The upcoming tournament will be the biggest in the competition's history, with a unprecedented number of nations and a first-ever additional knockout round. However, this expansion has maybe resulted in the group stage being slightly diluted in quality.

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 sole opening-round game featuring two teams inside the world's elite.

The Selecao versus Morocco is the next best. The Netherlands have the toughest group by Fifa world rankings, while Germany—drawn against less-fancied opponents—have the weakest. But, interesting matches still await.

Two Prolific Scorers Face Off

Phenomenal striker Norway's star will make his debut in his major international competition next summer. The Manchester City striker scored 16 times in eight matches to drag his country to their first appearance since 1998.

Few have managed to come close to the 25-year-old's incredible goalscoring feats—except for one player is scheduled to come up against him in the final round of the group stage. Together with Senegal, Norway have been drawn against Kylian Mbappe's France.

This means the top marksmen in the English top flight and La Liga will clash for the first time in on the global stage. Anticipate net-bulgers. Plenty of scoring.

A Familiar Foe

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

Another notable group game will see the French again come up against Senegal, who stunned the reigning title-holders back in the 2002 World Cup. On that first day, a then-unknown player outshone France's galaxy of stars to score the decisive goal.

Dream Ties for the First-Timers

Four new nations have benefited from the expanded World Cup to reach the finals for the first time. However, standing in their way are past winners, European champions and Copa America winners.

In one group, Curacao, the smallest nation to ever feature in a World Cup, will meet multiple winners Germany. The island nation, with a population of around half a million, will face Euro winners and 2010 World Cup winners 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 Portugal.

And Then Comes the Knockout Stage?

Assuming all the favorites make it safely through their groups, we shouldn't have to wait for the big hitters to meet. The last 16 is where things could get extremely interesting, most notably with a potential tie between past winners Germany and the French.

On the opposite half of the bracket, eyes will be drawn to the quarter-final stage, where old rivals Messi and Ronaldo are set 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 probable last-32 tie. Should Scotland progress, Samurai Blue or the Dutch could be waiting in what would be their first ever World Cup knockout fixture.