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The upcoming World Cup is at last beginning to seem very real. Although supporters are now able to begin marking their calendars, the recent ceremony in Washington DC was not short of major talking points.

Long before the Village People took to the stage with YMCA, we were left analyzing a opening round featuring a clash between football's top strikers and a playoff bracket that could produce a highly anticipated encounter between legends of the game.

The Ceremony That Felt Like It May Never End

Many people tuned in keen to discover their national side's group stage fixtures. But, despite the fact fans are accustomed to such ceremonies being lengthy, this one set a new standard.

After performances by a pop star and a former Pussycat Doll, addresses from dignitaries and Fifa officials, plus countless montages and discussions, it eventually appeared to begin nearly an hour later. Or so we thought.

Cue more interviews and entertainment, before the real selection process eventually began nearly an hour and a half after the star-studded show initially started. The selection then required almost an hour to complete.

Moving On to the Football Itself...

The upcoming World Cup will be the biggest in history, with a unprecedented number of nations and a first-ever additional knockout round. Yet, this increase in size has perhaps led to the group stage being somewhat weakened in overall strength.

There are hardly any fixtures between the major nations. England's game against Croatia is the most significant on paper. That is the sole opening-round game featuring two teams inside the world's elite.

Brazil versus The Atlas Lions 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. But, compelling contests still await.

A Pair of Goal Machines Go Head-to-Head

Phenomenal striker Erling Haaland will get a crack at his first major tournament in the upcoming finals. The Premier League striker netted 16 goals in qualifying matches to single-handedly carry his nation to their first appearance since 1998.

Few have managed to rival the 25-year-old's incredible scoring records—except for one player is set to face him in the last match of the group stage. Along with Senegal, Norway have been paired with Kylian Mbappe's France.

This means the leading scorers in the English top flight and Spain's division will go head-to-head for the first time in international football. Anticipate net-bulgers. Lots of goals.

We Meet Again

El Tri will take on South Africa in the first game—and not for the first time. The two teams also opened the 2010 edition. That game, which finished 1-1, is most famous for a rasping second-half strike.

Another notable fixture will see France again come up against Senegal, who shocked the then-world champions back in 2002. On that first day, a future Fulham midfielder upstaged France's cast of star names to score the decisive 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. However, awaiting them are past winners, continental title-holders and South American champions.

In one group, Curacao, the smallest nation to ever feature in a World Cup, will meet four-time winners Germany. Cape Verde, with a population of around 600,000, will face Euro winners and 2010 World Cup winners Spain.

Jordan, after 40 years of trying, meets defending champions La Albiceleste and the legendary forward. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will be guided by a 2006 World Cup winner against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal.

What About the Knockout Stage?

Assuming all the top teams make it safely through their groups, fans may not wait long for the heavyweights to meet. The last 16 is where things could get extremely interesting, most notably with a potential tie between former champions Germany and the French.

On the opposite half of the bracket, eyes will be drawn to the last eight, where historic adversaries the Argentine and the Portuguese are lined up for a possible clash. It would depend on both Messi's team and Ronaldo's side finishing top and squeezing through the initial playoffs.

For England, a match with co-hosts Mexico seems the probable first knockout game. And, if the Scots are able to get through, Japan or the Dutch could be waiting in what would be their first ever World Cup playoff match.