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The upcoming global tournament is at last starting to feel very real. While supporters can finally start planning their schedules, the recent ceremony in the US capital was not short of major talking points.

Long before the Village People performed with YMCA, we were left analyzing a group stage that includes a showdown between football's top forwards and a knockout stage that could produce a highly anticipated encounter between legends of the game.

The Ceremony That Seemed Like It Would Go On Forever

Numerous viewers logged on keen to find out their national side's initial opponents. However, even though fans are used 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 numerous montages and interviews, it eventually appeared to begin almost 60 minutes later. Or so we thought.

Cue 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 selection then required almost an hour to complete.

Moving On to the Football Itself...

The upcoming tournament will be the largest in the competition's history, with a record 48 teams and a first-ever additional knockout round. However, this expansion has perhaps led to the group stage being somewhat weakened in quality.

There are very few fixtures between the traditional powerhouses. England's game against Croatia is the most significant on paper. That is the sole opening-round game with two teams inside the world's elite.

Brazil versus The Atlas Lions is the second most intriguing. The Netherlands have the toughest group by Fifa world rankings, while Die Mannschaft—drawn against Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao—have the weakest. Nevertheless, compelling contests still await.

A Pair of Prolific Scorers Face Off

Phenomenal striker Erling Haaland will get a crack at his first major tournament next summer. The Premier League forward scored 16 times in qualifying matches to drag his nation to their first appearance since 1998.

Hardly any have managed to rival the youngster's incredible goalscoring feats—but someone who has is set to come up against him in the last match of the group stage. Together with Senegal, Norway have been drawn against Kylian Mbappe's France.

This means the top marksmen in the English top flight and Spain's division will clash for the first time in international football. Expect goals. Plenty of scoring.

We Meet Again

Mexico will face Bafana Bafana in the first game—and not for the first time. The two teams also opened the 2010 edition. That match, ending 1-1, is best remembered for a rasping goal.

Another eye-catching group game will see France again come up against Senegal, who stunned the reigning title-holders back in 2002. On that first day, a future Fulham midfielder upstaged France's cast of star names to score the winning goal.

Fantasy Fixtures for the Debutants

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao 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 meet multiple winners Die Mannschaft. The island nation, with a population of around half a million, will face European champions and former champions La Roja.

Jordan, after 40 years of trying, will face title-holders Argentina and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be led by a 2006 World Cup winner against the Portuguese icon's Portugal.

And Then Comes the Playoff Rounds?

If all the top teams progress from 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 bracket, eyes will be drawn to the quarter-final stage, where historic adversaries Messi and the Portuguese are set for a possible showdown. It would require both Messi's team and Ronaldo's side finishing top and squeezing through the initial playoffs.

Regarding the Three Lions, a match with tournament hosts seems the probable first knockout game. Should Scotland are able to get through, Samurai Blue or the Dutch could be waiting in what would be their historic World Cup knockout fixture.