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The upcoming global tournament is finally beginning to seem very real. Although supporters can finally start marking their calendars, Friday's draw in the US capital was not short of significant headlines.

Well before the iconic group performed with their classic hit, we were left analyzing a opening round that includes a clash between football's top forwards and a playoff bracket promising a truly mouthwatering encounter between legends of the sport.

The Draw That Seemed Like It May Never End

Many people tuned in keen to find out their team's group stage opponents. However, despite the fact fans are used to such ceremonies being lengthy, this one set a new standard.

After performances by a pop star and Nicole Scherzinger, addresses from political leaders and Fifa officials, plus countless montages and interviews, it eventually appeared to begin nearly an hour 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 glitzy event initially started. The draw itself then required almost an hour to complete.

On to the Football Itself...

The upcoming tournament will be the biggest in history, with a unprecedented number of nations and a first-ever additional knockout round. However, this increase in size has perhaps led to the group stage being somewhat weakened in quality.

There are very few matches between the major nations. The Three Lions' match with their 2018 semi-final opponents is the biggest on paper. That is the sole opening-round game featuring two teams ranked in the top 10.

Brazil versus Morocco is the next best. The Dutch have the most difficult draw by official standings, while Die Mannschaft—grouped with less-fancied opponents—have the easiest on paper. But, compelling contests still await.

Two Goal Machines Go Head-to-Head

Phenomenal striker Norway's star will get a crack at his first major tournament in the upcoming finals. The Premier League forward netted 16 goals in eight matches to single-handedly carry his nation to their initial berth since 1998.

Hardly any have managed to come close to the youngster's incredible goalscoring feats—except for one player is set to face 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 leading scorers in the Premier League and La Liga will go head-to-head for the first time in on the global stage. Anticipate net-bulgers. Plenty of scoring.

We Meet Again

El Tri will face Bafana Bafana in the opening match—and not for the first time. The sides also kicked off the 2010 edition. That game, which finished 1-1, is most famous for a rasping goal.

Another eye-catching fixture will see the French again come up against Senegal, 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 winning goal.

Dream Ties for the First-Timers

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

In one group, the tiny Caribbean island, the least populous country to ever play at a World Cup, will meet four-time winners Die Mannschaft. The island nation, with a population of around 600,000, will face Euro winners and former champions La Roja.

Jordan, after 40 years of trying, meets defending champions Argentina and Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be led by a former champion against Cristiano Ronaldo's Selecao das Quinas.

What About the Knockout Stage?

If all the favorites progress from their groups, fans may not wait long for the heavyweights to collide. The last 16 is where things could get really tasty, most notably with a potential tie between past winners the Germans and the French.

On the opposite half of the draw, eyes will be drawn to the last eight, where old rivals Messi and the Portuguese are set for a possible clash. It would depend on both Argentina and Ronaldo's side finishing top and navigating the initial playoffs.

For England, a match with tournament hosts seems the probable last-32 tie. Should Scotland progress, Samurai Blue or the Dutch could be waiting in what would be their historic World Cup knockout fixture.