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Next summer's World Cup is at last starting to feel very real. Although fans can finally start planning their schedules, Friday's ceremony in the US capital was full of significant headlines.

Well before the Village People performed with YMCA, we were left analyzing a opening round that includes a clash between football's top strikers and a knockout stage promising a truly mouthwatering meeting between legends of the sport.

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 used to such ceremonies being lengthy, this was extraordinary.

Following acts by Robbie Williams and a former Pussycat Doll, speeches from political leaders and Fifa officials, plus countless montages and discussions, it eventually appeared to begin almost 60 minutes later. Or so we thought.

Cue more interviews and entertainment, before the real selection process finally commenced around 90 minutes after the star-studded show initially started. The selection then took 59 minutes to complete.

On to the Actual Football...

The upcoming tournament will be the biggest in history, with a record 48 teams and a first-ever additional knockout round. Yet, this expansion has perhaps led to the group stage being slightly diluted in overall strength.

There are very few matches between the traditional powerhouses. England's game against Croatia is the biggest theoretically. That is the sole opening-round game with two teams inside the world's elite.

The Selecao versus Morocco 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, interesting matches remain.

Two Prolific Scorers Go Head-to-Head

Generational goalgetter Erling Haaland will make his debut in his first major tournament in the upcoming finals. The Manchester City striker netted 16 goals in eight matches to drag his country to their first appearance since 1998.

Hardly any have been able to rival the 25-year-old's ridiculous scoring records—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 leading scorers in the English top flight and La Liga will go head-to-head for the first time in on the global stage. Expect net-bulgers. Plenty of scoring.

We Meet Again

Mexico will take on Bafana Bafana in the first game—and not for the first time. The two teams also opened the tournament in South Africa. That match, ending 1-1, is most famous for a rasping second-half strike.

Another notable fixture will see France once more face the Senegalese, who shocked the reigning title-holders back in 2002. On that first day, a then-unknown player upstaged France's galaxy of stars to score the decisive goal.

Dream Ties for the First-Timers

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have benefited from the expanded World Cup to qualify for the tournament for the first time. But, standing in their way are past winners, continental title-holders and Copa America winners.

In one group, the tiny Caribbean island, the least populous country to ever play at a World Cup, will meet multiple winners Die Mannschaft. The island nation, with a population of around 600,000, will face European champions and former champions Spain.

The Middle Eastern side, after decades of trying, will face defending champions La Albiceleste and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be guided by a 2006 World Cup winner against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal.

And Then Comes the Knockout Stage?

If all the top teams progress from 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 possible matchup between former champions Germany and the French.

On the opposite half of the draw, eyes will be drawn to the last eight, where historic adversaries the Argentine and the Portuguese are set for a potential clash. It would depend on both Argentina and Ronaldo's side winning their groups and squeezing through the early knockout rounds.

For England, a game against tournament hosts seems the probable last-32 tie. And, if the Scots progress, Samurai Blue or the Dutch could await in what would be their first ever World Cup knockout fixture.