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The upcoming global tournament is finally beginning to seem very real. While supporters can finally start marking their calendars, Friday's ceremony in Washington DC was not short of major talking points.

Long before the iconic group performed with YMCA, observers were analyzing a opening round featuring a clash between football's top strikers and a knockout stage that could produce a highly anticipated encounter between legends of the sport.

The Ceremony That Felt Like It Would Go On Forever

Many people logged on keen to discover their team's group stage fixtures. However, despite the fact supporters are used to such ceremonies being lengthy, this was extraordinary.

Following acts by Robbie Williams and a former Pussycat Doll, speeches from dignitaries and Fifa officials, plus countless video packages and interviews, it finally seemed to begin 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 first kicked off. The selection then took 59 minutes to complete.

Moving On to the Football Itself...

The upcoming tournament will be the largest in the competition's history, with a unprecedented number of nations and a new round of 32. Yet, this increase in size has perhaps led to the group stage being slightly diluted in quality.

There are hardly any fixtures between the major nations. England's match with Croatia is the biggest on paper. That is the only group fixture with two teams ranked in the top 10.

The Selecao versus The Atlas Lions is the second most intriguing. The Netherlands have the toughest group by official standings, while Die Mannschaft—drawn against Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao—have the weakest. But, interesting matches still await.

Two Prolific Scorers Face Off

Generational goalgetter Erling Haaland will get a crack at his first major tournament next summer. The Manchester City forward netted 16 goals in eight matches to drag his country to their first appearance since 1998.

Hardly any 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. Along with Senegal, Norway have been drawn against the French superstar's Les Bleus.

This means the leading scorers in the Premier League and La Liga will clash for the initial occasion in international football. Expect net-bulgers. Lots of goals.

A Familiar Foe

Mexico will face Bafana Bafana in the opening match—and not for the first time. The two teams also opened the 2010 edition. That game, which finished 1-1, is most famous for a rasping second-half strike.

Another eye-catching group game will see the French once more face Senegal, who shocked the then-world champions back in 2002. On that opening night, a then-unknown player outshone France's cast of star names to score the winning 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 occasion. However, standing in their way are past winners, European champions and South American champions.

In one group, Curacao, the smallest nation to ever feature in a World Cup, will take on four-time winners Die Mannschaft. The island nation, with a resident count of around half a million, will face European champions and 2010 World Cup winners La Roja.

Jordan, after 40 years of trying, meets defending champions La Albiceleste and Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be guided by a 2006 World Cup winner against the Portuguese icon's Portugal.

And Then Comes the Playoff Rounds?

If all the top teams 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 really tasty, most notably with a possible matchup between past winners the Germans and France.

On the opposite half of the draw, eyes will be drawn to the last eight, where old rivals Messi and Ronaldo are set for a potential clash. It would depend on both Argentina and Portugal winning their groups and squeezing through the initial playoffs.

For England, a match with co-hosts Mexico seems the most likely last-32 tie. Should the Scots are able to get through, Japan or the Dutch could be waiting in what would be their historic World Cup knockout fixture.