Football World Cup: Wales fans descend on capital for crucial game

A win against Austria on Thursday will see Wales play Ukraine or Scotland for a place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar

Wales last played at a football World Cup 64 years ago, and a win later will put them just one game away from a return.

Fans from across Wales and the world are descending on Cardiff for one of the most important games in decades.

In 1958 they were eliminated by eventual winners Brazil, with Pele scoring the quarter-final winner.

Tonight they play Austria, and a win will see them face Scotland or Ukraine for a place at the 2022 World Cup.

The game kicks off at 19:45 GMT at the Cardiff City Stadium, but fans have been arriving in the capital since the early morning.

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"It's a massive game," Noel Mooney, chief executive of the Football Association of Wales, told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

"It is a World Cup final for us in many ways."

Austrian fans enjoying Cardiff city centre before Thursday evening's match

He added: "We've done everything we can preparing for this, obviously it's now up to the players after they cross that white line.

"They've brought a lot of joy, a lot of honour to Cymru… to get to a World Cup would cement their place in Welsh sporting and folklore history.

"I have no doubt the guys will put on a massive performance in for their country."

James, 33, from Holyhead and his daughter Ellie have been to the last few Wales games, but said they were especially nervous for this one.

James' father and Ellie's grandad is travelling down from Holyhead to watch the match with them

"The game has so much history, if we win tonight there is still one more to go but yeah, but we need to close that chapter of getting to the World Cup rather than leaving it 60 odd years," said James.

Ellie added she was very excited to watch the game.

'I'm really scared'

"Big games don't come around very often," said Dai Rees, 37, from Sully in the Vale of Glamorgan, who backs Wales to win against Austria, but is wary of the "heartbreak" of potentially losing in the final.

Owain, Paul and Dai are confident of a Wales win, but said that did not make them any less scared

"I think we have a really good chance at winning... but I think it's going to go to extra time, so yeah, I'm really scared," he added.

"It will just be much more heart-breaking to lose in the final."

Rosie Milic 25, from Wrexham, and 25-year-old Caragh Porter, from Risca, said they went to all of the Wales' games and cannot wait for tonight's

Charlie, Owain, Gwion and Derrick from Bancyfelin in Carmarthenshire said it would "mean so much" to them to see Wales play at a World Cup

"Of course we are excited for the game," said Charlie Morse, 24, from Bancyfelin in Carmarthenshire.

On the possibility of playing Ukraine in the final, he added: "It's football not politics. We love our country, but don't get me wrong it's very sad what's going on in Ukraine."

Fans are making the journey down to Cardiff from all corners of Wales - and the world. With one, Mark Pickering, making the 24-hour journey from Tokyo, Japan.

Wales captain and star player Gareth Bale has already said this would be his "last chance" to play for Wales at a World Cup.

Wales qualified for their first international tournament since 1958 at the 2016 European Championships, an experience which Bale said can "inspire" the team to qualify for the World Cup.

"We have to give 100% and have no regrets," he said.

"We can draw on past experiences that have hurt us but also the excitement of what potentially is ahead, so there is a lot to play for."

The Welsh squad received a heroes welcome after reaching the semi-finals of the 2016 Euros

Transport for Wales (TfW) have warned of delays for people travelling to Cardiff via train, and said face-coverings remained mandatory on public transport.

Services after the match will be "extremely limited" due to the late kick-off, TfW added.

Cardiff Bus said Leckwith Road, near Cardiff City stadium, will be closed following the match, with buses diverted.