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Next summer's global tournament is finally starting to feel very real. Although supporters can finally start marking their calendars, Friday's draw in the US capital was full of major talking points.

Well before the Village People performed with YMCA, observers were analyzing a opening round that includes a clash between football's top forwards and a knockout stage promising a truly mouthwatering meeting between two greats of the game.

The Draw That Seemed Like It May Never End

Numerous viewers tuned in keen to find out their national side's group stage opponents. However, even though fans are accustomed to these draws being lengthy, this was extraordinary.

Following performances by a pop star and Nicole Scherzinger, speeches from political leaders and Fifa officials, plus numerous montages and interviews, it eventually appeared to get going almost 60 minutes later. That was an illusion.

This led to more interviews and performances, before the real selection process eventually began around 90 minutes after the glitzy event initially started. The draw itself then took 59 minutes to complete.

On to the Actual Football...

Next summer's tournament will be the biggest in history, with a record 48 teams and a first-ever additional knockout round. However, this increase in size has perhaps led to the initial phase being slightly diluted in overall strength.

There are very few matches between the major nations. England's match with their 2018 semi-final opponents is the most significant on paper. That is the sole opening-round game with two teams ranked in the top 10.

The Selecao versus Morocco is the next best. The Dutch have the most difficult draw by official standings, while Germany—grouped with less-fancied opponents—have the weakest. But, interesting matches still await.

A Pair of Prolific Scorers Face Off

Generational goalgetter Norway's star will get a crack at his first major tournament next summer. The Premier League forward scored 16 times in qualifying matches to single-handedly carry his nation to their initial berth since 1998.

Few have been able to come close to the youngster's ridiculous goalscoring feats—except for one player is set to come up against him in the last match of the group stage. Along with Senegal, Norway have been drawn against the French superstar's Les Bleus.

This means the leading scorers in the English top flight and La Liga will go head-to-head for the initial occasion in international football. Anticipate net-bulgers. Lots of goals.

A Familiar Foe

El Tri will face Bafana Bafana in the first game—and not for the first time. The sides also kicked off the tournament in South Africa. That match, ending 1-1, is best remembered for a rasping goal.

Another eye-catching group game will see France again come up against the Senegalese, who shocked the then-world champions back in the 2002 World Cup. On that opening night, a future Fulham midfielder outshone France's galaxy of stars to score the decisive goal.

Dream Ties for the Debutants

Four new nations have benefited from the larger World Cup to reach the tournament for the first occasion. However, awaiting them are former world champions, 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 multiple winners Germany. Cape Verde, with a resident count of around 600,000, will face Euro winners and former champions Spain.

Jordan, after 40 years of trying, will face title-holders La Albiceleste and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be led by a former champion against the Portuguese icon's Selecao das Quinas.

And Then Comes the Knockout Stage?

If 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 extremely interesting, most notably with a potential tie between past winners the Germans and the French.

On the other side of the bracket, eyes will be drawn to the quarter-final stage, where old rivals the Argentine and Ronaldo are set for a potential clash. It would require both Messi's team and Ronaldo's side winning their groups and squeezing through the early knockout rounds.

For England, a game against tournament hosts seems the probable first knockout game. Should the Scots are able to get through, Samurai Blue or the Netherlands could be waiting in what would be their first ever World Cup playoff match.