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The upcoming global tournament is at last starting to feel very real. Although fans are now able to begin marking their calendars, the recent draw in the US capital was full of major talking points.

Long before the Village People took to the stage with their classic hit, we were left picking the bones out of a opening round featuring a showdown between football's top strikers and a knockout stage that could produce a highly anticipated meeting between legends of the sport.

The Ceremony That Seemed Like It Would Go On Forever

Numerous viewers logged on keen to discover their national side's initial fixtures. But, despite the fact fans are accustomed to these draws taking some time, this one set a new standard.

After performances by a pop star and a former Pussycat Doll, speeches from political leaders and football's governing body, plus countless video packages and interviews, it finally seemed to get going 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 star-studded show initially started. The selection then required almost an hour to complete.

Moving On to the Actual Football...

Next summer's World Cup will be the biggest in the competition's history, with a record 48 teams and a first-ever additional knockout round. However, this increase in size has perhaps led to the group stage being slightly diluted in quality.

There are hardly any matches between the major nations. England's match with Croatia is the biggest theoretically. That is the only group fixture featuring two teams ranked in the top 10.

The Selecao versus The Atlas Lions is the next best. The Dutch have the most difficult draw by official standings, while Germany—grouped with Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao—have the weakest. Nevertheless, interesting matches still await.

A Pair of Prolific Scorers Go Head-to-Head

Generational goalgetter Norway's star will make his debut in his major international competition in the upcoming finals. The Premier League forward netted 16 goals in qualifying matches to drag his nation to their first appearance since 1998.

Few have managed to rival the youngster's ridiculous goalscoring feats—except for one player is scheduled to face him in the last match of group games. Along with The Lions of Teranga, The Nordic side have been paired with the French superstar's France.

This means the top marksmen in the Premier League and La Liga will go head-to-head for the first time in on the global stage. Expect goals. Plenty of scoring.

A Familiar Foe

Mexico will take on South Africa in the first game—and not for the first time. The two teams also opened the tournament in South Africa. That game, which finished 1-1, is best remembered for a rasping second-half strike.

Another notable fixture will see the French again come up against Senegal, who shocked the then-world champions back in the 2002 World Cup. On that opening night, a future Fulham midfielder upstaged France's cast of star names to score the winning goal.

Dream Ties for the First-Timers

Four new nations have taken advantage of the larger World Cup to qualify for the tournament for the first occasion. However, awaiting them are former world champions, European champions and Copa America winners.

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 resident count of around half a million, will face European champions and former champions La Roja.

The Middle Eastern side, after 40 years of trying, meets title-holders Argentina and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be led by a 2006 World Cup winner against the Portuguese icon's Portugal.

What About the Playoff Rounds?

If 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 extremely interesting, most notably with a possible matchup between former champions Germany and the French.

On the other side of the bracket, eyes will be drawn to the quarter-final stage, where old rivals Messi and Ronaldo are set for a possible showdown. It would depend on both Argentina and Portugal winning their groups and navigating the initial playoffs.

Regarding the Three Lions, a match with tournament hosts seems the probable last-32 tie. Should Scotland progress, Japan or the Dutch could await in what would be their historic World Cup knockout fixture.