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The upcoming World Cup is at last starting to feel very real. Although fans can finally start marking their calendars, the recent draw in the US capital was not short of significant headlines.

Long before the iconic group performed with their classic hit, we were left picking the bones out of a opening round that includes a clash between football's top forwards and a playoff bracket promising a highly anticipated encounter between legends of the game.

The Ceremony That Seemed Like It Would Go On Forever

Numerous viewers logged on eager to find out their national side's initial opponents. But, despite the fact supporters are accustomed to such ceremonies being lengthy, this was extraordinary.

After performances by a pop star and Nicole Scherzinger, speeches from dignitaries and Fifa officials, plus numerous video packages and interviews, it eventually appeared to get going nearly an hour later. Or so we thought.

This led to more interviews and entertainment, before the real selection process eventually began nearly an hour and a half after the star-studded show first kicked off. The selection then took 59 minutes to finish.

Moving On to the Football Itself...

Next summer's World Cup will be the biggest in history, with a record 48 teams and a first-ever additional knockout round. Yet, this increase in size has maybe resulted in the initial phase being somewhat weakened in overall strength.

There are hardly any matches between the major nations. The Three Lions' match with their 2018 semi-final opponents is the most significant theoretically. That is the only group fixture with two teams ranked in the top 10.

Brazil versus The Atlas Lions 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. Nevertheless, compelling contests still await.

Two Prolific Scorers Face Off

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

Hardly any have managed to come close to the 25-year-old's ridiculous scoring records—except for one player is scheduled to come up against him in the final round of the group stage. Together with Senegal, Norway have been paired with the French superstar's Les Bleus.

This means the leading scorers in the English top flight and Spain's division will go head-to-head for the initial occasion in on the global stage. Expect net-bulgers. Plenty of scoring.

We Meet Again

El Tri will face Bafana Bafana in the first game—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 thunderous second-half strike.

Another notable fixture will see France again come up against Senegal, who stunned the then-world champions back in the 2002 World Cup. On that first day, a then-unknown player upstaged France's galaxy of stars to score the winning goal.

Fantasy Fixtures for the Debutants

Four new nations have taken advantage of the expanded World Cup to reach the finals for the first time. However, standing in their way are past winners, European champions and South American champions.

In one group, the tiny Caribbean island, the smallest nation to ever play at a World Cup, will meet four-time winners Germany. Cape Verde, with a population of around 600,000, will face Euro winners and former champions Spain.

The Middle Eastern side, after 40 years of trying, will face title-holders La Albiceleste and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be guided by a former champion against the Portuguese icon's Portugal.

And Then Comes the Knockout Stage?

Assuming all the favorites make it safely through their groups, fans may not wait long for the heavyweights to meet. The round of 32 is where things could get extremely interesting, most notably with a possible matchup between former champions the Germans and France.

On the other side of the draw, eyes will be fixed on the quarter-final stage, where old rivals Messi and the Portuguese are lined up for a possible clash. It would require both Argentina and Portugal winning their groups and navigating the early knockout rounds.

Regarding the Three Lions, a game against tournament hosts seems the most likely last-32 tie. And, if the Scots are able to get through, Japan or the Netherlands could await in what would be their first ever World Cup knockout fixture.