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Next summer's World Cup is finally starting to feel tangible. Although fans are now able to begin planning their schedules, Friday's ceremony in Washington DC was not short of significant headlines.

Well before the iconic group took to the stage with their classic hit, observers were picking the bones out of a opening round that includes a clash between two of the world's best forwards and a playoff bracket that could produce a truly mouthwatering meeting between legends of the game.

The Ceremony That Felt Like It Would Go On Forever

Many people logged on eager to find out their team's initial opponents. But, even though supporters are accustomed to such ceremonies being lengthy, this one set a new standard.

After acts by Robbie Williams and a former Pussycat Doll, addresses from dignitaries and football's governing body, plus numerous video packages and interviews, it finally seemed to begin nearly an hour later. That was an illusion.

Cue more interviews and performances, before the real selection process finally commenced nearly an hour and a half after the star-studded show initially started. The draw itself then took 59 minutes to complete.

On to the Actual Football...

The upcoming tournament will be the biggest in history, with a unprecedented number of nations and a new round of 32. However, this expansion has perhaps led to the group stage being somewhat weakened in overall strength.

There are very few matches between the major nations. The Three Lions' match with Croatia is the most significant on paper. That is the only group fixture with two teams ranked in the top 10.

The Selecao versus Morocco is the second most intriguing. The Dutch have the toughest group by Fifa world rankings, while Die Mannschaft—drawn against less-fancied opponents—have the easiest on paper. But, interesting matches remain.

A Pair of Goal Machines Face Off

Generational goalgetter Erling Haaland will get a crack at his major international competition next summer. The Premier League forward scored 16 times in qualifying matches to drag his nation to their initial berth since 1998.

Hardly any have been able to come close to the youngster's ridiculous goalscoring feats—but someone who has is set to come up against him in the last match of group games. Along with The Lions of Teranga, Norway have been paired with the French superstar's Les Bleus.

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

We Meet Again

El Tri will take on Bafana Bafana in the first game—and not for the first time. The sides also kicked off the 2010 edition. That match, which finished 1-1, is best remembered for a thunderous second-half strike.

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

Fantasy Fixtures for the First-Timers

Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao have taken advantage of the expanded World Cup to qualify for the finals for the first time. However, awaiting them are former world champions, continental title-holders and Copa America winners.

In one group, the tiny Caribbean island, the least populous country to ever play at a World Cup, will meet four-time winners Germany. Cape Verde, with a population of around half a million, will face European champions and former champions Spain.

Jordan, after 40 years of trying, meets title-holders Argentina and Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, The Central Asian team will be led by a 2006 World Cup winner against the Portuguese icon's Selecao das Quinas.

What About the Playoff Rounds?

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 potential tie between former champions the Germans and the French.

On the other side of the draw, eyes will be fixed on the quarter-final stage, where old rivals the Argentine and Ronaldo are lined up for a potential clash. It would depend on both Messi's team and Portugal winning their groups and navigating the early knockout rounds.

For England, a game against tournament hosts seems the most likely last-32 tie. Should Scotland are able to get through, Samurai Blue or the Netherlands could await in what would be their first ever World Cup playoff match.