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Next summer's World Cup is at last starting to feel very real. While fans can finally start planning their schedules, Friday's draw in the US capital was full of major talking points.

Well before the Village People performed with their classic hit, observers were analyzing a opening round featuring a clash between football's top forwards and a knockout stage that could produce a truly mouthwatering meeting between legends of the sport.

The Draw That Felt Like It Would Go On Forever

Many people tuned in keen to discover their national side's group stage opponents. However, despite the fact fans are used to these draws being lengthy, this was extraordinary.

After performances by Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger, speeches from political leaders and Fifa officials, plus countless montages and discussions, it eventually appeared to begin nearly an hour later. Or so we thought.

This led to further commentary and entertainment, before the real selection process eventually began around 90 minutes after the glitzy event first kicked off. The draw itself then took 59 minutes to complete.

On to the Actual Football...

Next summer's tournament will be the largest in history, with a record 48 teams and a first-ever additional knockout round. Yet, this expansion has maybe resulted in the group stage being somewhat weakened in quality.

There are very few matches between the traditional powerhouses. England's game against Croatia is the most significant on paper. That is the only group fixture with two teams inside the world's elite.

Brazil versus Morocco is the next best. The Dutch have the most difficult draw by Fifa world rankings, while Die Mannschaft—drawn against less-fancied opponents—have the weakest. Nevertheless, compelling contests remain.

Two Goal Machines Go Head-to-Head

Phenomenal striker Erling Haaland will get a crack at his first major tournament in the upcoming finals. The Manchester City striker netted 16 goals in qualifying matches to drag his nation to their initial berth since 1998.

Hardly any have managed to rival the youngster's incredible goalscoring feats—but someone who has is set to come up against him in the last match of the group stage. Together with Senegal, The Nordic side have been drawn against the French superstar's Les Bleus.

This means the top marksmen in the English top flight and La Liga will clash for the first time in international football. Expect net-bulgers. Plenty of scoring.

A Familiar Foe

El Tri will take on Bafana Bafana in the opening match—repeating history. The two teams also opened the tournament in South Africa. That match, ending 1-1, is best remembered for a thunderous goal.

Another eye-catching group game will see the French once more face the Senegalese, who stunned the then-world champions 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

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have benefited from the larger World Cup to reach the finals for the first time. However, awaiting them are past winners, European champions and Copa America winners.

In one group, the tiny Caribbean island, the least populous country to ever play at a World Cup, will take on four-time winners Die Mannschaft. Cape Verde, with a resident count of around 600,000, will face European champions and former champions Spain.

The Middle Eastern side, after decades of trying, meets title-holders La Albiceleste and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be led by a 2006 World Cup winner against Cristiano Ronaldo's Selecao das Quinas.

And Then Comes the Knockout Stage?

Assuming all the favorites progress from their groups, fans may not wait long for the heavyweights to meet. The last 16 is where things could get really tasty, most notably with a possible matchup between former champions Germany and France.

On the opposite half of the draw, eyes will be drawn to the last eight, where old rivals the Argentine and the Portuguese are lined up for a potential clash. It would require both Argentina and Ronaldo's side finishing top and squeezing through the early knockout rounds.

For England, a match with tournament hosts seems the most likely first knockout game. Should Scotland are able to get through, Japan or the Dutch could await in what would be their first ever World Cup knockout fixture.