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Next summer's global tournament is finally starting to feel tangible. Although fans are now able to begin planning their schedules, Friday's draw in Washington DC was full of significant headlines.

Long before the Village People took to the stage with their classic hit, we were left analyzing a opening round that includes a showdown between two of the world's best strikers and a playoff bracket that could produce a highly anticipated meeting between legends of the sport.

The Draw That Felt Like It May Never End

Many people logged on keen to find out their team's initial fixtures. However, even though supporters are accustomed to such ceremonies taking some time, this was extraordinary.

Following acts by a pop star and a former Pussycat Doll, addresses from dignitaries and football's governing body, plus countless montages and discussions, it finally seemed to begin nearly an hour later. That was an illusion.

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

On to the Actual Football...

Next summer's tournament will be the biggest in history, with a unprecedented number of nations and a first-ever additional knockout round. However, this increase in size has maybe resulted in the initial phase being somewhat weakened in overall strength.

There are hardly any fixtures between the traditional powerhouses. The Three Lions' match with their 2018 semi-final opponents is the biggest theoretically. That is the only group fixture featuring two teams ranked in the top 10.

The Selecao versus Morocco is the second most intriguing. The Dutch have the toughest group by official standings, while Germany—drawn against less-fancied opponents—have the weakest. But, interesting matches remain.

A Pair of Prolific Scorers Face Off

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

Few have been able to come close to the 25-year-old's incredible goalscoring feats—but someone who has is scheduled to face him in the last match of the group stage. Along with The Lions of Teranga, The Nordic side have been drawn against the French superstar's Les Bleus.

This means the top marksmen in the English top flight and La Liga will clash for the initial occasion in on the global stage. Anticipate net-bulgers. Lots of goals.

We Meet Again

Mexico will take on Bafana Bafana in the opening match—and not for the first time. The sides also opened the tournament in South Africa. That match, which finished 1-1, is best remembered for a thunderous second-half strike.

Another eye-catching group game will see France once more face the Senegalese, who shocked the then-world champions back in the 2002 World Cup. On that opening night, a then-unknown player upstaged France's cast of star names to score the decisive goal.

Fantasy Fixtures for the Debutants

Four new nations have benefited from the expanded World Cup to reach the tournament for the first occasion. However, standing in their way are former world champions, continental title-holders and South American champions.

In one group, the tiny Caribbean island, the least populous country to ever feature in a World Cup, will take on four-time winners Germany. Cape Verde, with a population of around half a million, will face European champions and 2010 World Cup winners La Roja.

The Middle Eastern side, after decades of trying, will face title-holders La Albiceleste and Lionel Messi. 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 make it safely through their groups, fans may not wait long for the heavyweights to meet. The round of 32 is where things could get extremely interesting, most notably with a possible matchup between past winners the Germans and the French.

On the other side of the draw, eyes will be fixed on the quarter-final stage, where historic adversaries Messi and the Portuguese are set for a possible clash. It would require both Messi's team and Ronaldo's side finishing top and squeezing through the early knockout rounds.

Regarding the Three Lions, a match with tournament hosts seems the probable first knockout game. And, if the Scots progress, Samurai Blue or the Netherlands could be waiting in what would be their historic World Cup knockout fixture.