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The upcoming global tournament is finally beginning to seem tangible. While supporters are now able to begin marking their calendars, Friday's draw in the US capital was not short of significant headlines.

Well before the iconic group took to the stage with YMCA, we were left analyzing a opening round featuring a clash between football's top strikers and a knockout stage promising a truly mouthwatering meeting between two greats of the sport.

The Draw That Seemed Like It Would Go On Forever

Numerous viewers logged on keen to find out their team's group stage opponents. But, even though supporters are used to these draws taking some time, this was extraordinary.

After performances by Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger, addresses from dignitaries and Fifa officials, plus numerous video packages and discussions, it eventually appeared to begin nearly an hour later. Or so we thought.

This led to further commentary and performances, before the real selection process eventually began nearly an hour and a half after the star-studded show first kicked off. The draw itself then took 59 minutes to complete.

Moving On to the Football Itself...

The upcoming tournament will be the biggest in 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 somewhat weakened in quality.

There are hardly any fixtures between the traditional powerhouses. The Three Lions' match with Croatia is the biggest theoretically. That is the sole opening-round game with two teams inside the world's elite.

The Selecao versus The Atlas Lions is the next best. The Dutch have the toughest group by official standings, while Germany—grouped with Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao—have the easiest on paper. But, interesting matches still await.

Two Prolific Scorers Go Head-to-Head

Generational goalgetter Erling Haaland will get a crack at his major international competition next summer. The Premier League forward netted 16 goals in eight matches to drag his country to their initial berth since 1998.

Few have been able to rival the 25-year-old's ridiculous goalscoring feats—but someone who has is set to face him in the final round of group games. Along with The Lions of Teranga, Norway have been drawn against the French superstar's Les Bleus.

This means the top marksmen in the Premier League and Spain's division will go head-to-head for the first time in international football. Anticipate net-bulgers. Plenty of scoring.

We Meet Again

El Tri will face South Africa in the opening match—and not for the first time. The two teams also kicked off the tournament in South Africa. That match, which finished 1-1, is best remembered for a rasping goal.

Another eye-catching fixture will see the French once more face Senegal, who shocked the then-world champions back in 2002. On that first day, a then-unknown player outshone France's cast of star names to score the decisive goal.

Fantasy Fixtures for the First-Timers

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have benefited from the larger World Cup to qualify for the finals for the first occasion. However, awaiting them 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 Die Mannschaft. The island nation, with a population of around half a million, will face Euro winners and 2010 World Cup winners La Roja.

Jordan, after 40 years of trying, meets defending champions La Albiceleste and Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be guided by a 2006 World Cup winner against Cristiano Ronaldo's Selecao das Quinas.

What About the Knockout Stage?

If all the top teams progress from their groups, we shouldn't have to wait for the big hitters to meet. The last 16 is where things could get extremely interesting, most notably with a possible matchup between former champions the Germans and France.

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 clash. It would require both Argentina and Portugal finishing top and squeezing through the early knockout rounds.

For England, a match with tournament hosts seems the most likely first knockout game. And, if the Scots are able to get through, Samurai Blue or the Dutch could await in what would be their first ever World Cup knockout fixture.