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Next summer's global tournament is finally starting to feel tangible. Although supporters are now able to begin marking their calendars, Friday's ceremony in Washington DC was not short of major talking points.

Well before the Village People performed with their classic hit, observers were picking the bones out of a group stage that includes a clash between two of the world's best forwards and a playoff bracket promising a highly anticipated encounter between legends of the game.

The Ceremony That Seemed Like It May Never End

Many people tuned in keen to find out their team's group stage fixtures. However, despite the fact supporters are accustomed to such ceremonies being lengthy, this was extraordinary.

Following performances by Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger, speeches from political leaders and Fifa officials, 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 entertainment, before the real selection process finally commenced nearly an hour and a half after the star-studded show initially started. The draw itself then required almost an hour to complete.

On to the Actual Football...

The upcoming World Cup will be the largest in the competition's history, with a unprecedented number of nations and a first-ever additional knockout round. Yet, this expansion has maybe resulted in the initial phase being slightly diluted in overall strength.

There are hardly any matches between the major nations. The Three Lions' match with Croatia is the most significant on paper. That is the only group fixture featuring two teams inside the world's elite.

Brazil versus The Atlas Lions is the next best. The Netherlands have the most difficult draw by Fifa world rankings, while Die Mannschaft—grouped with less-fancied opponents—have the easiest on paper. But, compelling contests remain.

A Pair of Prolific Scorers Face Off

Phenomenal striker Norway's star will get a crack at his first major tournament next summer. The Manchester City forward netted 16 goals in qualifying matches to drag his nation to their initial berth since 1998.

Few have been able to come close to the youngster's incredible goalscoring feats—except for one player is set to face him in the final round of the group stage. Together 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 La Liga will clash for the initial occasion in on the global stage. Expect net-bulgers. Lots of goals.

A Familiar Foe

El Tri will face South Africa in the first game—and not for the first time. The two teams also kicked off the tournament in South Africa. That match, which finished 1-1, is most famous for a thunderous second-half strike.

Another notable group game will see France once more face Senegal, who shocked the then-world champions back in 2002. On that first day, a future Fulham midfielder outshone 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 finals for the first occasion. But, awaiting them are past winners, European champions and Copa America winners.

In one group, the tiny Caribbean island, the smallest nation to ever play at a World Cup, will take on four-time winners Die Mannschaft. The island nation, with a population of around 600,000, will face European champions and former champions La Roja.

Jordan, after 40 years of trying, meets defending champions La Albiceleste and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be guided by a former champion against Cristiano Ronaldo's Selecao das Quinas.

What About the Playoff Rounds?

Assuming all the top teams make it safely through their groups, fans may not wait long for the heavyweights to collide. The last 16 is where things could get really tasty, most notably with a possible matchup between former champions Germany and France.

On the opposite half of the bracket, eyes will be fixed on the last eight, where historic adversaries the Argentine and the Portuguese are set for a potential showdown. 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 last-32 tie. And, if the Scots are able to get through, Japan or the Netherlands could be waiting in what would be their first ever World Cup knockout fixture.