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The upcoming World Cup is at last beginning to seem very real. While supporters can finally start marking their calendars, Friday's draw in the US capital was full of major talking points.

Long before the Village People performed with their classic hit, we were left analyzing a group stage featuring a clash between two of the world's best strikers and a playoff bracket promising a highly anticipated meeting between two greats of the sport.

The Draw That Felt Like It May Never End

Numerous viewers tuned in eager to find out their team's group stage fixtures. But, even though fans are used to such ceremonies taking some time, this one set a new standard.

After performances by Robbie Williams and a former Pussycat Doll, addresses from dignitaries and Fifa officials, plus countless video packages and discussions, it eventually appeared to get going nearly an hour later. Or so we thought.

Cue more interviews and entertainment, before the actual draw eventually began nearly an hour and a half after the glitzy event initially started. The selection then required almost an hour to finish.

On to the Football Itself...

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

There are hardly any fixtures between the major nations. England's match with their 2018 semi-final opponents is the most significant on paper. That is the only group fixture with two teams ranked in the top 10.

The Selecao versus Morocco is the second most intriguing. The Dutch have the toughest group by Fifa world rankings, while Germany—grouped with less-fancied opponents—have the weakest. But, interesting matches remain.

Two Prolific Scorers Face Off

Generational goalgetter Erling Haaland 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 country to their first appearance since 1998.

Hardly any have been able to rival the 25-year-old's ridiculous scoring records—but someone who has is set to come up against him in the last match of group games. Together with The Lions of Teranga, Norway have been paired with Kylian Mbappe's Les Bleus.

This means the top marksmen in the English top flight and La Liga will go head-to-head for the first time in on the global stage. Expect goals. Lots of goals.

A Familiar Foe

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

Another eye-catching group game will see the French once more face Senegal, who shocked the reigning title-holders back in the 2002 World Cup. On that first day, a then-unknown player outshone France's galaxy of stars to score the winning goal.

Dream Ties for the Debutants

Four new nations have taken advantage of the expanded World Cup to qualify for the tournament for the first time. But, standing in their way are former world champions, European champions and Copa America winners.

In one group, Curacao, the smallest nation to ever feature in a World Cup, will take on multiple winners Die Mannschaft. Cape Verde, with a population of around half a million, will face Euro winners and former champions Spain.

The Middle Eastern side, after decades of trying, meets title-holders Argentina and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be guided by a former champion against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal.

And Then Comes the Playoff Rounds?

Assuming all the top teams 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 past winners the Germans and the French.

On the opposite half of the bracket, eyes will be drawn to the quarter-final stage, where historic adversaries Messi and the Portuguese are lined up for a potential showdown. It would depend on both Messi's team and Ronaldo's side finishing top and navigating the early knockout rounds.

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