Emma Sanders
BBC Sport in Doha

Image source, BBC Sport

We have just heard from Qatar boss Felix Sanchez and captain Hassan Al-Haydos ahead of the hosts' opening game with Ecuador.

Sanchez said it will be a "historic moment" for them to play their first match at a World Cup.

"It's a very important day for us. A historic moment, a moment of happiness for us. It's an extraordinary day like no other," he said.

"We have made such a huge effort in this country. We are all devoted for this world cup and have invested so much.

"I hope it's a great party where we can enjoy football and I hope everyone from all countries in the world, together, can enjoy this experience."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport in Doha

A busy day so far at the International Broadcast Centre as around 400 journalists gathered this morning to hear from Fifa president Gianni Infantino.

Press conferences by Qatar and Ecuador have followed, while Portugal are among the teams who will be training in a few hours’ time in front of media.

Image source, BBC Sport

The media room is full of journalists from all countries and nationalities working away.

There are several press conference rooms in the building, while media can also log in virtually via a translation app to all conferences.

Today does feel particularly busier than usual because of Infantino’s presence this morning.

Image source, BBC Sport

Nesta McGregor
BBC Sport in Qatar

Organisers of this fan park are hoping to provide a festival atmosphere. Fans can use the beach, buy alcohol and watch live music. Although much of the site still resembles a building.

Nesta McGregor
BBC Sport in Qatar

French fan Djamal said: "For me this is no good. What I saw here when I arrived is not what I saw on the website. There is no towels, shower gel or toothpaste. It says ‘hotel’ on my booking. I will try and claim my money back."

Djamal spent £3,000 to for a three-week stay at the village but is leaving after less than 24 hours at the site.

Other fans have told BBC Sport the thick plastic tents are extremely hot during the day – and the electric fan provided isn’t sufficient to keep the room cool. There is no AC.

Nesta McGregor
BBC Sport in Qatar

Connected to the tented site is this fan park, with a big screen that’ll show matches during the tournament. Like the fan village there are large mounds of material and machinery here.

Nesta McGregor
BBC Sport in Qatar

Well over a million people are expected in Qatar during the World Cup. To deal with the mass influx of fans temporary accommodation has been built like – the Qetaifan Island Fan Village just north of Doha.

It has more than 1800 tents and has just opened.

Cranes, diggers and workmen are frantically trying to complete unfinished tasks though - with the tournament just hours away. Officials we have spoken to here are confident they can. But it would be a constructional miracle if they do.

Alex Howell
BBC Sport in Qatar

I asked Eric Dier if the talk around the off-the-field issues about the World Cup in Qatar have taken away from the build up for him as a player.

He said: “We’re sitting here talking about it instead of the football. It's taken a lot of that away for us. We can't hide from it, it's here. It would be wrong to ignore it. At the same time, we’re here to play football. I'm a footballer and definitely not smart enough to be anything other than that. I'm excited to play football but all of those things will be present at the same time.”

Image source, BBC Sport

Luke: I think with so many controversies this World Cup shouldn’t be going ahead. I’m excited to watch World Cup football but I think the countries taking part should have boycotted the World Cup really. I think that’s the best way to get change and justice.

JustAThought: It’s staggering that anyone has the appetite for this World Cup given what we know about Qatar’s human rights record, migrant worker deaths, treatment of the LGBTQI+ community, and women’s rights. It’s a disgrace. Boycott by not watching or clicking official content.

BritishTrashPanda: Not excited for this World Cup due to how it was awarded, the deaths of workers and all the other reasons mentioned elsewhere. It should’ve been taken away from Qatar when they admitted they couldn’t hold it in summer. I’m surprised there haven’t been more boycotts

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales in Doha

In his Welsh-language news conference, Tottenham defender Ben Davies says: "It's amazing to be part of this squad travelling around the world and showing the best of Wales.

“The World Cup does feel different to the Euros. Qualifying for a World Cup and to have a chance of doing something special in the group, it’s difficult to sum up how it feels.”

Asked about a sponsor's video of Cafu wearing a Wales fans' bucket hat and trying to speak a little Welsh, Davies adds: "I saw the video and it's class!

"It's strange to see someone like Cafu wearing a bucket hat but it's great."

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport in Doha

Image source, Getty Images

Qatar captain Hassan Al-Haydos has been speaking to media before the hosts open the World Cup against Ecuador on Sunday.

“It goes without saying I am very proud to lead the squad in the World Cup," says the Al Sadd forward.

"It is the edition of the World Cup of all Arabs, we bear the responsibility of all Arabs to play well with our performance and the team spirit. We have to represent all Arabs well.

"Inshallah me and my team we will perform up to the expectations and show the results of our hard work."

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales in Doha

Swansea City centre-back Ben Cabango is first up for Wales today as they prepare for their first World Cup in 64 years.

“It’s an honour to be here," says the 22-year-old. "It’s the first time in 64 years and I feel so lucky to be here.

“It’s a bit surreal. I was with The New Saints [Cymru Premier side on loan from Swansea] when I was 18. It’s been a hard journey and I’ve worked hard to get to where I am today.

“This season I’ve been in good form. I’ve been working hard and I’ll keep doing that.

“My brother Theo [Cardiff Rugby player] has wished me well and hopefully I’ll do my whole family proud.”

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales in Doha

Ychydig o hanes i ddod yn Doha heddiw wrth i Gymru gynnal cynhadledd newyddion cyntaf Cwpan y Byd yn Gymraeg gyda Ben Davies.

A bit of history to come in Doha today as Wales will hold the World Cup’s first news conference in Welsh with Ben Davies.

As well as the Spurs defender, Swansea City's Ben Cabango and Jonny Williams - one of Wales' Euro 2016 squad members and now at Swindon Town - will also be facing the media.

'A quite extraordinary day'published at 11:35 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2022

11:35 GMT 19 November 2022

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport in Qatar

The news conference then took another dramatic turn as the Fifa director of media relations Bryan Swanson addressed the room.

Ex-Sky Sports reporter Swanson said: "I am sitting here as a gay man in Qatar. We have received assurances that everyone will be welcome and I believe everyone will be.

"Just because he [Infantino] is not gay, does not mean he does not care. He does. You see the public side and I see the private side. I have thought long and hard about whether I should say this. I do feel strongly about it.

"We care about everyone at Fifa. I have a number of gay colleagues. I am fully aware of the debate and fully respect people's opinions. When he says we are inclusive. He means it."

A quite extraordinary day on the eve of a World Cup that shows no signs of letting-up on front page news stories.

'A quite extraordinary moment'published at 11:28 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2022

11:28 GMT 19 November 2022

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport in Qatar

Qatar were named as World Cup hosts in 2010 and there have been questions and criticism since.

Just when you thought this most talked about World Cup was about to kick-off, Gianni Infantino launched into an incredible pre-planned monologue that stunned the room into silence.

The 400 journalists and camera crew assembled in the news conference auditorium initially looked around aghast before jaws hit the floor as Infantino unleashed a 54-minute speech that pulled no punches on media coverage of migrant workers, the LGBT community and the last-minute U-turn on alcohol consumption.

Infantino also took questions from the floor and was asked about the 'focus on football' letter sent out to the 32 nations' fans who won't watch the tournament and England v Iran.

Rhia Chohan
BBC Sport in Qatar

Pedro and Fatima, a couple from Mexico, checked into the Qateifan Island North Fan Village (a 15-minute drive from Lusail Stadium). They got married in April and this World Cup trip was meant to be part of their honeymoon.

It costs about £175 a night to stay in one of the 1,800 tents on site, and they booked in for five nights. After their one-night experience, they're planning to leave for the hotel Pedro's brother is staying at and kipping on his couch.

Pedro: "To be honest it wasn't what I expected. When you see the pics and read the description - and it's a Fifa World Cup - you expect a little bit of quality - this is like sub-par hostels that you can find backpacking across the world.

"I thought it was actually going to be built up. Proper insulation, proper building, not something that's been rented for a music festival. To be honest it could be a fun experience, it could be a fun time but for what you pay it's definitely a letdown.

"Last night at least wasn't that bad, we have a fan in the tent which makes it decent but in the morning we woke up because of the heat because it's 9am and the tent is made of this plastic thick tarp that gets really warm - it's like being in a greenhouse, so we weren't able to have sleep past 9am even though we were exhausted because of the flight."

Fatima: "There's no organisation whatsoever, no-one knows anything. We came by car and even our driver had no idea where he was taking us. No-one we asked knew where reception was even. When we finally made it there, they also had no idea at all.

"Quite honestly right now, nothing is done, nothing is finished. We just walked around the beach fest and there are still construction workers working on it. The stores are closed, there's no drinking water. So my experience basically is this is really definitely not what we paid for.

"In any hotel you can buy water - maybe they don't offer it complimentary, but here, only in the morning do they give you a really tiny bottle. That's it, that's the drinking water you get. We know of people who have been looking for water and say the stores [in the fan village] aren't open until 6.30pm or you have to walk an hour to the nearest shop."

OK, the elephant in the room.

Are people excited about the World Cup starting tomorrow? It has such a different feel to usual - both with the off-pitch controversies and it being mid-season/in the winter.

Text or tweet in letting us know if you're hyped or not - and why.

Olympian Colin Jackson is an ambassador for the Football Association of Wales.

He has been talking to the BBC. Here are some of the things he talked about...

• He says Gianni Infantino looks irritated and Fifa as an organisation look frustrated
• Jackson added we all want Qatar to change with regards to LGBT rights and all areas of diversity but thinks that everyone will be made to feel welcome at the World Cup
• He wants the world to see that as a football nation Wales exists and show off the good that Wales has to offer
• The former athlete says unity between players and fans will show how strong the connection is in Wales
• And he says England v Wales should be a great match and looking forward to watching it