A newly expanded competition for the first time - FIFA in their wisdom have decided to make next year's showpiece a 48-team event rather than the usual 32 - and an extra round, means that the tournament will last for a record 39 days.
Not to mention that it will be played in three countries - USA, Mexico and Canada - for the first time.
Holders, Argentina, will remain one of the favourites in what could be Lionel Messi's swansong for La Albiceleste, whilst Spain's new 'golden generation' is also likely to be difficult to beat.
England won all of their qualification games without conceding a single goal, whilst France, Germany and the Netherlands will aim to use their experience to ensure that they don't want to bow out of the tournament early.
Four teams at their first World Cup
Then there are those countries playing in the competition for the first time.
Curacao's goalless draw with Jamaica saw them qualify, and they are the smallest nation ever - population 150,000 - to compete at the tournament. They're coached by Dick Advocaat, and at 78, he will be the oldest-ever at a World Cup.
Cape Verde, Jordan and Uzbekistan are the other debutants for what will be another festival of football, but who are the dark horses?
Those teams that could surprise everyone if they just so happen to be drawn in a group that should virtually guarantee their progression into the knockout rounds.
Norway's stunning qualifying campaign
Norway's sensational qualifying campaign hasn't exactly gone under the radar, but nor has it been given the coverage that it rightly deserves.
In a group that also included Italy, whom the Norwegian's beat 4-1 to seal their spot at the tournament for the first time in 28 years, Erling Haaland and co. simply bulldozed every opponent they came across.
As with the Three Lions, Norway won all eight games, but their 37 goals scored were - by far - the most of any team from the European qualification groups.
Haaland will get the credit for much of their success too, as his 16 goals in those eight games were the most of any player in World Cup qualifying from any continent.
However, the Norwegians aren't just a one-man band.
Alexander Sorloth and Jorgen Strand Larsen are two more attackers who, on their day, are just as lethal as their contemporary, Haaland.
In Antonio Nusa, Norway have one of the most exciting young prospects in world football, and, along with Oscar Bobb, can be a nightmare for defenders.
Assuming he too stays free of injury, much of the attacking intent from Stale Solbakken's side comes via the creativity and purpose of Martin Odegaard.
The Arsenal man has consistently driven his side forward and led by example throughout qualifying, and with Julian Ryerson and Kristoffer Ajer holding the fort defensively, as well as Sander Berge shoring up the midfield, there is strength throughout the squad.
Ecuador could be the surprise package
Looking at the South American qualifiers, Brazil will be delighted that there has been an expansion next summer, as their fifth-placed finish under Carlo Ancelotti might not have been good enough otherwise.
They'll need big performances from the likes of Vinicius Junior, Estevao and others if they want to be considered as genuine contenders for the title.
Both Ecuador and Colombia finished above them, though they, too, have had a somewhat understated qualification journey.
When one considers that the former can boast arguably the world's best defensive midfielder in Moises Caicedo, and a solid defence that includes Piero Hincapie, Willian Pacho and Joel Ordonez, it's no wonder that they only conceded five goals in 18 qualification games.
Though they don't score many either, La Tri are going to be hugely difficult to break down, and are underestimated at their opponents' peril.
Colombia's mix of experience and Uruguay's solidity
Colombia finished just a point behind Ecuador but scored exactly double their 14 goals.
From an attacking perspective, they have a mixture of players with World Cup experience - James Rodriguez being the most obvious - and those who are bang in form but who have never graced the tournament before.
Luis Diaz, for example, will cause any defence problems, whilst Jhon Duran, Jhon Arias and Richard Rios will all be solid additions.
Uruguay might also have a say in proceedings under Marcelo Bielsa, who, at 70 years of age, will likely use the tournament as his last hurrah.
Their qualification was a little up and down at best, though they ended on the same points (28) as Colombia, Brazil and Paraguay.
In Ronald Araujo, Jose Maria Gimenez, Manuel Ugarte and Giorgian de Arrascaete, they have one of the strongest spines of any team at the tournament.
Time will ultimately tell if any of those national teams have what it takes to trouble those who are expected to be there or thereabouts, but what a tournament we therefore have in prospect.
