As thousands of people across Wales get their Cymru tops and Welsh flags ready for the game, one Swansea man is feeling completely torn about who he should be supporting in the World Cup this year. Darius Shamsaee, 39, is half Welsh and half Iranian - so jokes he's facing a "dilemma" on which team he should be backing in the Wales vs Iran game held in Qater on Friday, November 25 and broadcast live around the world.
Darius, who works for an airline, describes himself as a "Swansea boy born and bred" and was raised in the Dunvant area of the city by his Welsh mother and Iranian father. He now lives in the city centre with his fiancé and their five-year-old daughter.
In previous World Cup matches, Darius has backed Iran. He said: "The last three World Cups I've supported them [Iran] as I obviously was not going to support England! Wales have never played at a World Cup before in my life - so now I'm in a dilemma, I just never thought I'd see these two teams play against each other!"
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Darius feels "privileged" to have been able to visit his father's family and hometown in Iran both as a youngster and an adult, most recently in 2015. Sadly, that same year Darius lost his father - so one of the conditions he's thinking about as he decides who to support in this next World Cup game is how he can best honour him. That said, Darius also wants to honour his Welsh identity, his Welsh upbringing, and his Welsh mother, fiancée and daughter.
He said: "I'm a Swansea boy born and bred, I was born in 1982 in the old Mount Pleasant Hospital in the city centre - my mum is a proud Welsh lady and my dad is from overseas, Iran. I used to play rugby a lot in my youth, I'm a proud Welshman in that respect.
"Plus, this is the first World Cup in my life that Wales have been in - I thought I'd never see Wales and Iran play together. Even when it was announced months ago that they were playing. I keep having to do a double-take!"
Darius' parents met back in the 1970s when his dad moved from Iran to Swansea to study. The couple soon fell in love and later had three children, all of which were raised in Swansea - but Darius' dad kept the family connected to their Iranian roots.
"I've been to Iran a few times, it was a complete culture shock! But I felt okay as Dad took me under his wing!" he said. "I felt privileged to go there, I have family there and my name is quite historic [it comes from the area my Dad is from]."
"I'm really torn on who I should be supporting: Wales or Iran. And both teams need the win really, to progress. Wales can't be satisfied with a draw, they'll be looking for a win, and Iran are desperate for a win after their loss to England. It's nerve-wracking!"
"I can't decide who to root for - maybe the referee!" he joked.
Darius will be watching Iran vs Wales from his home in Swansea on Friday. Let us know in the comments who you'll be supporting and support Wales by leaving your messages here.
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