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The upcoming global tournament is finally beginning to seem tangible. While fans can finally start planning their schedules, the recent ceremony in the US capital was not short of major talking points.

Well before the iconic group performed with their classic hit, observers were picking the bones out of a group stage featuring a showdown between football's top forwards and a playoff bracket that could produce a highly anticipated encounter between legends of the sport.

The Draw That Felt Like It May Never End

Many people logged on keen to discover their national side's group stage fixtures. But, despite the fact fans are accustomed to these draws taking some time, this was extraordinary.

After performances by Robbie Williams and a former Pussycat Doll, addresses from dignitaries and football's governing body, plus numerous video packages and discussions, it finally seemed to get going almost 60 minutes later. That was an illusion.

This led to more interviews and entertainment, before the actual draw finally commenced around 90 minutes after the star-studded show initially started. The draw itself then required almost an hour to finish.

Moving On to the Football Itself...

The upcoming tournament will be the biggest in the competition's history, with a record 48 teams and a new round of 32. However, this increase in size has maybe resulted in the group stage being somewhat weakened in quality.

There are very few fixtures between the traditional powerhouses. England's game against their 2018 semi-final opponents is the biggest on paper. That is the only group fixture featuring two teams ranked in the top 10.

The Selecao versus The Atlas Lions is the second most intriguing. The Dutch have the most difficult draw by official standings, while Germany—drawn against Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao—have the easiest on paper. But, compelling contests remain.

A Pair of Prolific Scorers Face Off

Generational goalgetter Norway's star will make his debut in his first major tournament in the upcoming finals. The Premier League striker netted 16 goals in eight matches to single-handedly carry his nation to their initial berth since 1998.

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

This means the leading scorers in the Premier League and La Liga will clash for the initial occasion in on the global stage. Expect goals. Plenty of scoring.

We Meet Again

El Tri will face South Africa in the opening match—and not for the first time. The two teams also kicked off the tournament in South Africa. That game, ending 1-1, is most famous for a rasping second-half strike.

Another notable group game will see France once more face Senegal, who shocked the reigning title-holders back in 2002. On that opening night, a then-unknown player upstaged France's galaxy of stars to score the decisive goal.

Fantasy Fixtures for the First-Timers

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have benefited from the expanded World Cup to reach the tournament for the first time. However, standing in their way are past winners, continental title-holders and Copa America winners.

In one group, the tiny Caribbean island, the smallest nation to ever play at a World Cup, will take on multiple winners Die Mannschaft. Cape Verde, 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 Argentina and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be guided by a former champion against the Portuguese icon's Portugal.

What About the Knockout Stage?

Assuming all the top teams progress from their groups, fans may not wait long for the big hitters to collide. The last 16 is where things could get really tasty, most notably with a possible matchup between past winners Germany and France.

On the opposite half of the draw, eyes will be drawn to the last eight, where historic adversaries the Argentine and Ronaldo are lined up for a possible showdown. It would require both Messi's team and Portugal winning their groups and squeezing through the early knockout rounds.

Regarding the Three Lions, a match with co-hosts Mexico seems the most likely last-32 tie. Should Scotland progress, Japan or the Dutch could await in what would be their first ever World Cup knockout fixture.