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Next summer's World Cup is at last beginning to seem very real. While fans are now able to begin marking their calendars, the recent ceremony in Washington DC was not short of major talking points.

Long before the Village People performed with their classic hit, we were left 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 encounter between legends of the game.

The Ceremony That Felt Like It Would Go On Forever

Numerous viewers logged on keen to discover their national side's group stage fixtures. However, despite the fact fans are accustomed to such ceremonies taking some time, this one set a new standard.

Following acts by a pop star and a former Pussycat Doll, speeches from dignitaries and football's governing body, plus countless video packages and interviews, it eventually appeared to begin almost 60 minutes later. That was an illusion.

Cue further commentary and entertainment, before the actual draw finally commenced around 90 minutes after the star-studded show initially started. The draw itself then took 59 minutes to finish.

Moving On to the Actual Football...

Next summer's 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 traditional powerhouses. England's match with their 2018 semi-final opponents is the biggest theoretically. That is the sole opening-round game featuring two teams inside the world's elite.

Brazil versus Morocco is the next best. The Dutch have the most difficult draw by Fifa world rankings, while Die Mannschaft—drawn against Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao—have the weakest. But, compelling contests still await.

A Pair of Goal Machines Face Off

Generational goalgetter Norway's star will get a crack at his major international competition in the upcoming finals. The Manchester City forward netted 16 goals in qualifying matches to drag his nation to their initial berth since 1998.

Hardly any have been able to come close to the 25-year-old's incredible scoring records—but someone who has is scheduled to face him in the last match of group games. Along with Senegal, Norway have been drawn against 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. Anticipate goals. Lots of goals.

A Familiar Foe

Mexico will face Bafana Bafana in the first game—repeating history. The sides also opened the 2010 edition. That game, ending 1-1, is best remembered for a rasping goal.

Another notable fixture will see France again come up against the Senegalese, who shocked 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 First-Timers

Four new nations have taken advantage of the expanded World Cup to reach the tournament for the first time. However, standing in their way are former world champions, continental title-holders and Copa America winners.

In one group, Curacao, the least populous country to ever play at a World Cup, will take on four-time winners Germany. The island nation, with a resident count of around 600,000, will face European champions and former champions Spain.

The Middle Eastern side, after 40 years of trying, will face defending champions La Albiceleste and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be led by a 2006 World Cup winner against Cristiano Ronaldo's Selecao das Quinas.

And Then Comes the Playoff Rounds?

If all the favorites make it safely through their groups, fans may not wait long for the big hitters to collide. The last 16 is where things could get really tasty, most notably with a possible matchup between former champions Germany and the French.

On the opposite half of the draw, eyes will be fixed on the quarter-final stage, where historic adversaries the Argentine and Ronaldo are set for a possible showdown. It would require both Messi's team and Ronaldo's side finishing top and navigating the early knockout rounds.

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