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Next summer's World Cup is finally starting to feel tangible. Although supporters can finally start planning their schedules, Friday's ceremony in Washington DC was not short of major talking points.

Long before the iconic group performed with YMCA, observers were picking the bones out of a opening round that includes a clash between football's top strikers and a playoff bracket that could produce a highly anticipated encounter between two greats of the game.

The Ceremony That Seemed Like It Would Go On Forever

Many people logged on eager to discover their team's group stage opponents. However, despite the fact fans are accustomed to such ceremonies taking some time, this one set a new standard.

After acts by a pop star and Nicole Scherzinger, addresses from political leaders and football's governing body, plus countless video packages and discussions, it finally seemed to get going almost 60 minutes later. That was an illusion.

This led to further commentary and performances, before the real selection process eventually began nearly an hour and a half after the glitzy event first kicked off. The selection then took 59 minutes to finish.

Moving On to the Actual Football...

The upcoming World Cup will be the largest in history, with a record 48 teams and a new round of 32. Yet, this expansion has maybe resulted in the group stage being slightly diluted in overall strength.

There are hardly any matches between the traditional powerhouses. The Three Lions' match with 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 Morocco 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. Nevertheless, interesting matches still await.

A Pair of Prolific Scorers Go Head-to-Head

Phenomenal striker Norway's star will make his debut in 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 been able to come close to the youngster's ridiculous scoring records—except for one player is set to face him in the last match of the group stage. Together with Senegal, Norway have been drawn against Kylian Mbappe's Les Bleus.

This means the leading scorers in the Premier League and Spain's division will go head-to-head for the first time in on the global stage. Expect goals. Lots of goals.

A Familiar Foe

Mexico will face South Africa in the first game—and not for the first time. The sides also opened the 2010 edition. That match, which finished 1-1, is most famous for a thunderous goal.

Another notable fixture will see the French again come up against Senegal, who stunned the reigning title-holders back in the 2002 World Cup. On that opening night, a then-unknown player outshone France's galaxy of stars to score the decisive goal.

Fantasy Fixtures for the First-Timers

Four new nations have benefited from the larger World Cup to reach the finals for the first occasion. But, standing in their way are past winners, European champions and South American champions.

In one group, Curacao, the smallest nation to ever play at a World Cup, will take on four-time winners Die Mannschaft. Cape Verde, 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 title-holders Argentina and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be guided by a 2006 World Cup winner against Cristiano Ronaldo's Selecao das Quinas.

And Then Comes the Playoff Rounds?

Assuming all the favorites make it safely through their groups, fans may not wait long for the heavyweights to collide. The round of 32 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 bracket, eyes will be drawn to the quarter-final stage, where historic adversaries Messi and the Portuguese are lined up for a potential clash. It would require both Argentina and Portugal finishing top and navigating the early knockout rounds.

Regarding the Three Lions, a game against co-hosts Mexico seems the probable first knockout game. And, if the Scots progress, Japan or the Netherlands could be waiting in what would be their first ever World Cup knockout fixture.