Hundreds of Wales fans gathered at the Welsh bucket hat that has appeared in the centre of Qatar's capital city Doha ahead of the game against Iran. The giant hat - part of Wales football fans' unofficial uniform – was the focal point of celebrations ahead of Friday morning's game.
Fans have been getting together to get the passion building, singing Welsh anthems and dancing in the hot sun before heading to the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium for the 10am kick off as Wales continue their first World Cup campaign for 64 years. You can follow live updates throughout the day here.
Wales legend Dafydd Iwan has also been giving Welsh fans a moment they'll never forget by turning up to lead a rousing rendition of Yma o Hyd on the streets of Doha. The singer is in Qatar supporting Wales after a whirlwind few months which has cemented his iconic status. The Barry Horns also took a Welsh youth choir to sing for the crowds who had gathered.
One broadcaster said on Friday morning said that it was the unity that the fans shared with the team that "sets them apart from other nations at the World Cup".
Sara Penant, 28, from Caernarfon, and one of the horde of Wales fans crowded around the giant bucket hat installation on Friday morning, said: "I'm excited. There's such a buzz building around here, but slightly apprehensive about the game as well because obviously it's a crucial one.
"If Wales win, it will be chaos tonight, but if we lose it'll change the whole dynamic of the next couple of days.
"I hope we get to see it. We're quite greedy now after the Euros last year and 2016.
"If you'd talked to us years ago, probably seeing Wales score in a World Cup would have been enough, but expectations are higher now and we want to see that win."
WalesOnline reporter Sion Morgan said: "The atmosphere is fantastic in the build up to the game, especially so early in the day. Everyone is really friendly and the fans are in good voice. It’s seriously hot though. Sweating bucket hats."
Back in Wales, schools have been given permission to cancel lessons so pupils can watch Rob Page's team in action. The game kicks off on Friday at 10am, making it the only Wales group-stage fixture to fall within school hours, so the Welsh Government is allowing schools to decide whether children can watch the game or not.
This is Wales' first World Cup appearance since 1958; a 10-year-old child who watched Wales bow out to Brazil in the quarter-final in 1958 would be 74 now.
Read next:
- Dafydd Iwan turns up at Wales World Cup party in Doha and sings Yma o Hyd
What Wales need against Iran to continue bid to qualify for next round of World Cup
This Wales fan was all of us during passionate and emotional Welsh national anthem at World Cup
The amazing rendition of the anthem Wales fans have been waiting to sing for 64 years
