Emma Sanders
BBC Sport in Doha

Image source, BBC Sport

Fifa president Gianni Infantino had a busy day yesterday.

Just hours after delivering an extraodinary hour-long monologue at a media conference, in which he accused the west of "hypocrisy", he took to the stage at the opening of the fan festival in Doha.

In front of around 40,000 fans - the biggest official gathering at a World Cup fan festival - he welcomed everyone to Qatar.

"Moments like these don't happen often. We're creating history," he said.

"Welcome to the world! This is a night of celebration. This will be the heart of the World Cup.

"We are proud you are here. The world is united in Doha for this World Cup thanks to you."

Carl Roberts
BBC Sport Wales in Doha

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford has arrived in Doha and is meeting the Wales squad before their World Cup opener against the United States tomorrow.

The only players not involved in the main training session are the three goalkeepers and midfielder Joe Allen, who's still recovering from a hamstring injury.

I've just been helping a Japanese TV commentator pick a Wales team for tomorrow night.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

As well as the opening ceremony and first game of the tournament there's a number of news conferences today, including England and Wales later this afternoon. We'll have updates from those here.

With Qatar's human rights abuses in the spotlight, will LGBTQ+ people be watching the tournament?

Many members of the community have spoken out against Qatar being awarded the tournament.

The country has been criticised for multiple human rights concerns - including for its treatment of women, LGBTQ+ people and migrant workers.

BBC News spoke to a number of LGBTQ+ people, and an ally of the community, to understand how they feel ahead of the start of the tournament.

Read more here.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino created a lot of headlines yesterday by accusing the west of "hypocrisy" and says Qatar 2022 will be the "best World Cup ever".

In an extraordinary monologue at a news conference in Doha, Infantino spoke for nearly an hour and made a passionate defence of Qatar and the tournament.

He opened by saying: "Today I have strong feelings. Today I feel Qatari, I feel Arab, I feel African, I feel gay, I feel disabled, I feel a migrant worker."

Image source, .

BBC Sport commentators Guy Mowbray, John Murray and Vicki Sparks have picked out 10 players from outside the Premier League who are worth watching in the World Cup.

They are...

• Daichi Kamada (Japan)
• Pedri (Spain)
• Antonio Silva (Portugal)
• Noah Okafor (Switzerland)
• Pedro (Brazil)
• Gavi (Spain)
• Jewison Bennette (Costa Rica)
• Josko Gvardiol (Croatia)
• Garang Kuol (Australia)
• Bilal El Khannouss (Morocco)

Click here to find out why.

And here's a little teaser from Fifa ahead of the opening ceremony to help get you in the mood.

You can watch coverage of the opening ceremony and Qatar versus Ecuador on BBC One and iPlayer from 15:00 GMT.

Have you seen the BBC's opening titles yet?

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport in Doha

A spectacular lights show took place last night to officially welcome fans to the World Cup on the eve of the opening ceremony in Doha.

Images of hands being shaken, a footballer nutmegging another, someone taking a free-kick and the World Cup trophy were displayed in the sky above the Corniche, alongside fireworks, a water fountain show and a performer on a hover board.

The show ended with a bang as the words "Welcome to Qatar" filled the sky.

Image source, BBC Sport

Shortly afterwards, the actual World Cup trophy was brought into the arena as the host welcomed legends of the game to the stage.

Among them was Frenchman Marcel Desailly, who played in Qatar, Spaniard Iker Casillas and Brazilians Roberto Carlos and Gilberto Silva.

Unsurprisingly, the Brazilians received the biggest cheer and the legends took it in turns to lift the trophy and kiss it, before posing for a selfie with the 40,000-some fans.

Image source, BBC Sport

Not quite feeling that World Cup buzz yet? I find there's few better ways of getting revved up for a major tournament than watching great goals from past ones.

Here, BBC Sport relives 10 goals that tell the story of the 2018 World Cu[ - featuring stunning strikes from Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Available to UK users only.

Not convinced a padlock on a tent door is going to be of much use...

The fans have started arriving, but what can those staying in the fan village expect? Nesta McGregor has been to find out.

Andy Cryer
BBC Sport in Qatar

The Fans Festival opened on the Corniche in Doha on Saturday night - as tens of thousands of football fans turned out to celebrate World Cup eve.

It is estimated 40,000 were in attendance as long queues snaked around the entrance and around the nearby Metro stops.

There were reports earlier in the day of fans having to queue two hours before getting in but by the time we got there at around 19:00 local time the long lines were all moving.

Once inside they enjoyed a spectacular light show, some World Cup legends waving the trophy around and a DJ playing some banging tunes from the 80s.

It was the first sign since my arrival in the country on Wednesday of crowds of fans in football shirts, singing football songs - and many clutching their four pints of beer!

Image source, BBC Sport

Thirty-two teams will battle it out over 28 days for the ultimate prize, but who will be crowned champions?

Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Williams, Gabby Logan & Jermaine Jenas all give their World Cup predictions.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport in Doha

Image source, BBC Sport

The World Cup officially kicks off tonight but there is still a constant risk of injury as players come off the back of a gruelling club schedule.

France's Karim Benzema is the latest to be ruled out, while Senegal will play tomorrow without their star man Sadio Mane.

These two men - Germany's Manuel Neuer and Wales' Gareth Bales - are both training again with their teams today and nobody wants to see anymore players dropping out of the World Cup.

Image source, Getty Images

Big news yesterday and a huge shame for any football fan as France striker Karim Benzema has been ruled out of the World Cup with a thigh injury he suffered in training.

Benzema, 34, won the 2022 Ballon d'Or - awarded to the world's best player - after helping Real Madrid win the Champions League and La Liga.

"I am extremely sad for Karim, who made this World Cup a major goal," said head coach Didier Deschamps.

"In my life I never give up but tonight I have to think about the team like I always do," Benzema said.

"So the reason tells me to leave my place to someone who can help our team to make a great World Cup."

There has, of course, been plenty of controversy about Qatar's hosting of the World Cup and the BBC's Analysis editor Ros Atkins looks into them in the above video.

Hello!

Well here we are. After years of controversy, talking and preparing, Qatar 2022 start today when the hosts face Ecuador in the tournament opener this afternoon.

It might not quite be the fixture to get pulses racing but it is the start of 28 days of international football, with games on most days from when you've finished breakfast to pretty much just when you've had your dinner.

The first game gets under way at 16:00 GMT but we'll be building up to the big kick off with all the latest from Qatar here.