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The upcoming World Cup is finally beginning to seem tangible. Although supporters are now able to begin marking their calendars, Friday's draw in Washington DC was not short of major talking points.

Long before the Village People performed with YMCA, observers were picking the bones out of a opening round that includes a showdown between football's top strikers and a playoff bracket that could produce a truly mouthwatering meeting between legends of the game.

The Draw That Seemed Like It Would Go On Forever

Many people logged on keen to find out their national side's group stage fixtures. But, despite the fact fans are accustomed to these draws taking some time, this one set a new standard.

Following performances by Robbie Williams and a former Pussycat Doll, speeches from dignitaries and Fifa officials, plus numerous video packages and discussions, it finally seemed to begin almost 60 minutes later. That was an illusion.

Cue further commentary and performances, before the actual draw finally commenced nearly an hour and a half after the glitzy event first kicked off. The draw itself then required almost an hour to finish.

On to the Football Itself...

Next summer's tournament will be the largest in history, with a record 48 teams and a new round of 32. However, this expansion has maybe resulted in the initial phase being slightly diluted in overall strength.

There are hardly any matches between the major nations. The Three Lions' game against their 2018 semi-final opponents is the biggest theoretically. That is the sole opening-round game 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 less-fancied opponents—have the easiest on paper. But, interesting matches remain.

A Pair of Prolific Scorers Face Off

Phenomenal striker Norway's star will make his debut in his first major tournament in the upcoming finals. The Premier League forward scored 16 times in eight matches to single-handedly carry his country to their first appearance since 1998.

Few have been able to rival the youngster's ridiculous scoring records—but someone who has is set to come up against him in the final round of the group stage. Along with Senegal, The Nordic side have been drawn against the French superstar's Les Bleus.

This means the leading scorers in the English top flight and La Liga will clash for the initial occasion in international football. Expect goals. Plenty of scoring.

A Familiar Foe

El Tri will take on South Africa in the first game—and not for the first time. The sides also opened the tournament in South Africa. That match, which finished 1-1, is most famous for a thunderous second-half strike.

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

Dream Ties for the Debutants

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have taken advantage of the larger World Cup to reach the tournament for the first time. However, standing in their way are past winners, European champions and Copa America winners.

In one group, Curacao, the least populous country to ever feature in a World Cup, will meet four-time winners Germany. The island nation, with a resident count of around 600,000, will face Euro winners and 2010 World Cup winners Spain.

The Middle Eastern side, after 40 years of trying, will face defending champions La Albiceleste and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be guided by a former champion against Cristiano Ronaldo's Selecao das Quinas.

What About 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 really tasty, most notably with a potential tie between past winners the Germans and France.

On the opposite half of the draw, eyes will be drawn to the quarter-final stage, where old rivals the Argentine and Ronaldo are lined up for a possible clash. It would require both Argentina and Ronaldo's side winning their groups and navigating the initial playoffs.

Regarding the Three Lions, a game against co-hosts Mexico seems the most likely last-32 tie. Should Scotland progress, Samurai Blue or the Netherlands could await in what would be their first ever World Cup playoff match.