It isn't an international tournament until someone debuts a new hairstyle. At France '98, the whole Romania team dyed their hair blonde for good luck. David Beckham launched a mohawk in Japan/Korea '02. Phil Foden went blonde for Euro 2020 - inspired by Paul Gascoigne. And now Germany's Serge Gnabry has been the first to step out in Qatar with a fresh trim.

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Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer in Qatar

As discussions over wearing the OneLove armband continue behind the scenes here in Doha, England manager Gareth Southgate will be putting the final touches to his preparations for today’s opener against Iran.

All the suggestions are that Southgate is ready to go with a very positive team selection and Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka will start ahead of Phil Foden.

Iran will be no soft touch and Southgate will not be taken in by the blizzard of compliments aimed in England’s direction by Iran’s wily coach Carlos Quieroz last night.

Doha weather report? Warm and sunny but with a nice breeze that might be very welcome come kick-off time.

Image source, PA

Image source, Kate Williams

A football mural created after England reached the Euro 2020 final has two new faces as Gareth Southgate's team prepare to start their World Cup campaign in Qatar.

The popular wall in Nuneaton already shows manager Southgate, captain Harry Kane and forward Raheem Sterling.

Now street artist Nathan Parker has added 1966 World Cup winning captain Bobby Moore and England Lionesses captain Leah Williamson, to sit alongside an image of Queen Elizabeth II which was painted by fellow street artist Andrew Mills.

"I was away when the women were playing in the summer so I feel we need to represent them. The lads got to the final, but the girls won it. They brought it home," said Parker.

Read more here.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport in Doha

Denmark manager Kasper Hjulmand on the wait to hear about a decision on the OneLove armbands:

"First of all I think it’s not up to the players. Imagine going on the pitch with a clear yellow card? That is not possible.

"We have to make sure it is not up to the players to make that decision. Let’s see later today what happens.

"I think a decision will be made later today when we have clear answers. We will see on the outcome.”

Alan Shearer was speaking to BBC Breakfast Sports reporter John Watson who, quite possibly, might be the only person in Qatar wearing a jumper.

It's nearly 30C, John!

Alan Shearer
Former England striker on BBC Breakfast TV

Forget about form. Get a result today and confidence starts flowing.

One of the good things about Gareth Southgate is he has created a great atmosphere. Today is key, get the win and you never know.

It will be tough, but I expect us to win and I expect us to win the group.

This will be a really key game for Wales today. I am hoping they get a victory and hope they finish second to England in the group.

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales in Doha

Wales are at the World Cup. It bears repeating. Drink it in.

Unless you're old enough to remember 1958, or young enough not to recall a time before 2016, the idea of Wales playing at a World Cup has felt like a fantasy for most of your life.

To be a Welsh football fan is to hope. But for even the most optimistic among them, the sport's greatest competition - and Wales' continued absence from it - has brought with it hefty, often crushing doses of reality.

There have been the near misses, from Scotland in 1977 to Romania 1993 and the Republic of Ireland in 2017. They are etched in the collective memory, indelible marks punctuated by draining periods of miserable failure and, worse, apathy.

To be a Welsh fan is to have become conditioned to watch World Cups as a neutral, accepting as fact that Wales are not among the competitors, choosing instead to pick another country at random to support every four years.

For 64 years, to be a Welsh fan has been to stand outside in the cold, peering enviously through the window into the warmth as others enjoy this quadrennial carnival.

Then the day came in June when the anguish of Wales' World Cup history washed away in the pouring rain.

Now Wales are here at a World Cup.

Read more here.

Image source, Getty Images

Cristiano Ronaldo believes his TV interview in which the Manchester United forward said he had been betrayed by the club and was being forced out had not been a distraction in the Portugal changing room at the World Cup.

"In my life, the best timing is always my timing," Ronaldo told a news conference earlier today.

"I don't have to think about what other people think. I speak when I want. The players know me really well for many years and know the type of person I am.

"It’s an ambitious group that is hungry and focused. So I'm sure it (the interview) won’t shake the changing room’s concentration and focus."

After missing Thursday's friendly against Nigeria in Lisbon due to a stomach problem, Ronaldo has been training as usual with team mates since arriving in Qatar on Friday and he said he feels in shape.

"I’m feeling great, I’m recovered and I’m training well and ready to start the World Cup in the best way possible," Ronaldo said.

Image source, .

Fifa says captains risk “sporting sanctions” by wearing anti-discrimination OneLove armbands.

On BBC Radio 5 live from 09:00 GMT, Nicky Campbell asks: Should the captains wear them- even if they risk a yellow card?

Join the discussion and listen on BBC Sounds.

The “World Football in Qatar” bonus podcast from BBC World Service is out now.

Join John Bennett, Mani Djazmi and Pat Nevin for reaction to Ecuador’s win, go inside the USA & Senegal camps, hear from protesting Iran fans, and hang out with Argentina’s most loyal supporters; they’ve worked day and night over the last 4 years, sacrificing holidays, selling cars and saving every possible Peso to get to Qatar.

Plus, can it really be true that it’s actually a bit chilly inside the stadiums in Doha??

Listen to the podcast on BBC Sounds now.

England's OneLove armband, taking the knee and Wales' first World Cup game since 1958 - join Kelly Cates, Pat Nevin, Stephen Warnock and Nathan Blake as they discuss the main topics from the World Cup.

Listen to the latest World Cup Daily podcast featuring their Doha diary on BBC Sounds now.

About to head off to work? Here's a couple of podcasts that are very much worth a listen to...

Image source, Getty Images

Germany great Jurgen Klinsmann believes England are on a "natural path" to win the World Cup.

Writing in his daily BBC Sport World Cup newsletter, he said: "I sense whenever I am in England, a positive pressure. When you have that, expectations are high, this is what you live for, what stimulates you and drives you.

"For me, England is living through a very natural progression. A semi-final in Russia, a final in the Euros which they should have won, now the natural path for England is to win the World Cup.

"There is nothing about too much pressure, it is a natural situation which the players and staff I’m pretty sure have no problem with. That is what you are dreaming about.

"I am excited for England, I believe in their qualities. They have proven them. It should be their own drive and hunger to finish the job off."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport in Doha

It’s been dominated by South American fans so far here in Qatar.

But I have seen a number of English fans this morning on my travels through the metro stations to the international broadcast centre.

There was a group singing along with some Brazilian fans earlier, while I bumped into two Yorkshiremen on the metro.

Image source, Express Sport

And here's the Express back page in which Harry Kane and Gareth Bale comments both feature prominently ahead of England and Wales' respective openers.