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The upcoming World Cup is finally starting to feel very real. While fans are now able to begin planning their schedules, the recent draw in Washington DC was not short of major talking points.

Long before the iconic group performed with their classic hit, observers were picking the bones out of a group stage featuring a clash between two of the world's best forwards and a playoff bracket that could produce a truly mouthwatering encounter between legends of the game.

The Ceremony That Felt Like It Would Go On Forever

Numerous viewers logged on eager to discover their national side's group stage opponents. But, despite the fact supporters are used to these draws being lengthy, this one set a new standard.

After acts by a pop star and Nicole Scherzinger, addresses from political leaders and Fifa officials, plus countless montages and discussions, it eventually appeared to get going almost 60 minutes later. Or so we thought.

Cue further commentary and entertainment, before the real selection process eventually began nearly an hour and a half after the star-studded show first kicked off. The draw itself then took 59 minutes to finish.

Moving 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 slightly diluted in quality.

There are very few matches between the traditional powerhouses. England's game against 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.

The Selecao versus The Atlas Lions is the second most intriguing. The Dutch have the toughest group by official standings, while Die Mannschaft—grouped with Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao—have the weakest. But, interesting matches remain.

A Pair of Goal Machines Face Off

Phenomenal striker Erling Haaland will get a crack at his first major tournament next summer. The Premier League striker scored 16 times in eight matches to drag his nation to their first appearance since 1998.

Few have been able to come close to the youngster's incredible scoring records—but someone who has is scheduled to come up against him in the last match of group games. Together with Senegal, The Nordic side have been drawn against Kylian Mbappe's Les Bleus.

This means the top marksmen in the Premier League and La Liga will clash for the initial occasion in international football. Expect goals. Plenty of scoring.

We Meet Again

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

Another eye-catching group game will see the French again come up against the Senegalese, who shocked the reigning title-holders back in the 2002 World Cup. On that opening night, a future Fulham midfielder upstaged France's cast of star names to score the decisive goal.

Fantasy Fixtures for the First-Timers

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have taken advantage of the expanded World Cup to qualify for the tournament for the first occasion. But, standing in their way are former world champions, 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 take on four-time winners Die Mannschaft. Cape Verde, with a population of around half a million, will face European champions and former champions La Roja.

Jordan, after decades of trying, will face title-holders Argentina and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be guided by a former champion against Cristiano Ronaldo's Selecao das Quinas.

And Then Comes the Playoff Rounds?

Assuming all the favorites 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 potential tie between past winners Germany and France.

On the opposite half of the draw, eyes will be fixed on the quarter-final stage, where historic adversaries Messi and Ronaldo are set for a possible clash. It would depend on both Argentina and Portugal winning their groups and navigating the initial playoffs.

Regarding the Three Lions, a game against tournament hosts seems the probable last-32 tie. And, if Scotland are able to get through, Samurai Blue or the Netherlands could be waiting in what would be their historic World Cup playoff match.