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The upcoming global tournament is at last starting to feel tangible. Although fans are now able to begin planning their schedules, the recent draw in Washington DC was full of major talking points.

Long before the Village People took to the stage with YMCA, observers were picking the bones out of a opening round featuring a showdown between two of the world's best strikers and a playoff bracket promising a highly anticipated meeting between two greats of the game.

The Draw That Felt Like It May Never End

Numerous viewers logged on eager to discover their team's initial fixtures. But, even though fans are used to these draws taking some time, this one set a new standard.

Following acts by a pop star and Nicole Scherzinger, addresses from dignitaries and football's governing body, plus numerous montages and interviews, it eventually appeared to get going nearly an hour later. Or so we thought.

Cue further commentary and entertainment, before the actual draw finally commenced around 90 minutes after the glitzy event first kicked off. The draw itself then required almost an hour to finish.

On to the Actual Football...

The upcoming tournament will be the biggest in the competition's history, with a unprecedented number of nations and a new round of 32. However, this expansion has maybe resulted in the initial phase being somewhat weakened in overall strength.

There are very few matches between the major nations. The Three Lions' game against Croatia is the biggest on paper. That is the only group fixture featuring two teams ranked in the top 10.

Brazil versus Morocco is the next best. The Dutch have the most difficult draw by official standings, while Germany—grouped with Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao—have the weakest. Nevertheless, interesting matches remain.

A Pair of Goal Machines Face Off

Generational goalgetter Erling Haaland will make his debut in his first major tournament next summer. The Premier League striker netted 16 goals in eight matches to drag his country to their initial berth since 1998.

Few have managed to rival the 25-year-old's ridiculous scoring records—but someone who has is set to face him in the final round of the group stage. Along with Senegal, Norway have been drawn against the French superstar's Les Bleus.

This means the leading scorers in the English top flight and La Liga will clash for the initial occasion in international football. Expect goals. Plenty of scoring.

We Meet Again

Mexico will face Bafana Bafana in the opening match—and not for the first time. The two teams also kicked off the 2010 edition. That match, ending 1-1, is most famous for a thunderous second-half strike.

Another eye-catching fixture will see France once more face the Senegalese, who shocked the reigning title-holders back in the 2002 World Cup. On that opening night, a future Fulham midfielder upstaged France's cast of star names to score the winning goal.

Dream Ties for the Debutants

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have taken advantage of the expanded World Cup to qualify for the finals for the first occasion. However, awaiting them are former world champions, European champions and South American champions.

In one group, the tiny Caribbean island, the smallest nation to ever play at a World Cup, will take on multiple winners Germany. The island nation, with a resident count of around 600,000, will face European champions and 2010 World Cup winners La Roja.

Jordan, after decades of trying, will face title-holders La Albiceleste and the legendary forward. 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?

Assuming all the top teams make it safely through their groups, we shouldn't have to wait for the big hitters to meet. 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 old rivals Messi and the Portuguese are set for a potential showdown. It would depend on both Argentina and Portugal finishing top and squeezing through the early knockout rounds.

For England, a match with co-hosts Mexico seems the probable last-32 tie. And, if Scotland are able to get through, Samurai Blue or the Netherlands could await in what would be their first ever World Cup knockout fixture.