LIVEWorld Cup LIVE: England stars jet off to Qatar as final preparations for the tournament begin... but are the hosts paying FAKE FANS to make it more of a spectacle?
Follow Sportsmail's live blog as we take you through all the latest World Cup news ahead of the opening game between Qatar and Ecuador on Sunday.
Be sure to to check back tomorrow for more live updates throughout the day on the World Cup. Have a good evening.
REBECCA DAVISON: Peter Crouch and Paul Potts have formed an unlikely duo to record a classical World Cup album, called Crouchy Conducts The Classics, which was released on Tuesday.
The curious collaboration, supported by the Paddy Power Choir, sees Peter, 41, and Paul, 52, deliver an unexpected upgrade to popular terrace football chants.
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And now for something completely different. Some bizarre takes here. Qatar to beat England? I mean we are all enough to remember Iceland at Euro 2016 - but that's not a prediction that's just wild guessing (I really hope this post doesn't come back to haunt me).
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KIERAN LYNCH: The build-up to the World Cup, which starts on Sunday, has been overshadowed by a raft of social issues surrounding Qatar's human rights record and persecution of the LGBTQ+ community.
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In news that will shock no one, Mane is ruled out for Senegal's first games of the tournament. Having picked up an injury playing for Bayern Munich it looked like he would miss the competition altogether. Senegal are clearly gambling on getting a patched up version ready for the latter stages. "A bold strategy, Cotton. Let's see if it works for them."
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Some excellent skill to be admired here - especially Neymar's. I would love to see how former Manchester United and Spurs star Dimitar Berbatov would do here though. He was the master at stuff like this.
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CRAIG HOPE: The Newcastle striker has always maintained his belief that he would make Gareth Southgate's World Cup squad, despite missing a month of this season with a hamstring injury.
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Speaking about what his late father would have told him before the World Cup, James told BBC Wales: '[He would have said] be yourself, play with a smile on your face and don't let anything faze you'.
James also spoke about what it will be like to sing the national anthem at the 2022 edition of the tournament. He said: 'Every time I sing the national anthem it's very emotional, but after you have got to come back down to earth because you have got a game to play.
'The Wales fans will be out there. That is massive for us because they weren't at the last Euros unfortunately. I am just glad that they can come and support us.'
Team photo klaxon alert, with France posing in full kit before they fly out. Big shame they don't have the trophy on hand though like all holders of a cup usually have. Here is Didier Deschamps and his men at their Clairefontaine base.
Looks like France stars such as Kylian Mbappe enjoyed the waiting around before hand...
Another star striker backing England after Messi earlier. It's got to happen now.
Erling Haaland has tipped the Three Lions having also claimed he would love to play in a World Cup. Not this one though as the Manchester City star's Norway team failed to qualify for the Qatar tournament.
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ANDREW PENTRICE: The Socceroos have hit the ground running in Qatar ahead of the world cup - and they didn't have to look far to be inspired.
Retired great Tim Cahill joined the likes of Aaron Mooy, Jackson Irvine and Garang Kuol in a light training session at the Aspire Academy, where he works - and the 42-year-old appeared to still be in peak physical condition.
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Come on, who doesn't love a wall chart? It's a staple of the World Cup. Get yours here, with our excellent design.
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Aaron Lennon of course was part of England's World Cup squad that reached the 2006 World Cup quarter-finals. Incidentally, there are just two of that squad that are still playing. Naming them both is not as easy as you would suspect.
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SAM BROOKES: Prince William arrived to greet the players on Monday evening and offered some final words of encouragement before giving all the squad members a package which told them the number of players that have previously worn their shirt number, and contained an inspirational message from Southgate.
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Gareth Bale and team-mates are also in England's group - but no flying out for them today. They have been training at the Cardiff City Stadium
Get yourself ready for the 2022 World Cup with Sportsmail's sweepstake kit. It's a perfect way for you and your friends to follow the tournament in Qatar - and potentially have someone else to support should Gareth Southgate's England fail to deliver.
Simply print out our sheet, then cut the names into individual pieces of paper, fold them and put them into a hat ahead of the big kick-off on Sunday, November 20.
Once you're ready, you can start your own sweepstake at work, at home or down the pub. Charge as much as you like per entry (or as much as people are willing to pay).
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DOMINIC HOGAN: The Belgian captain joined Los Blancos in 2019 but has only managed 72 games in more than three years after a succession of injuries contributed to a loss of the fantastic form he showed at Chelsea.
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One for 2026 perhaps? Watch this space
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Quiet those of you at the back hinting, it's got something to do with interviews and sniping. He's been training with team-mates just outside Lisbon as part of their World Cup preperations.
VIVEK CHAUDHARY AND SHEKHAR BHATIA: England’s WAGS are staying on a cruise ship owned by a company that is being investigated for using ‘slave labour,’ MailOnline can reveal.
Three ships belonging to MSC Cruises, one of the biggest cruise line companies in the world are docked in Doha port to provide luxury accommodation for WAGs and other World Cup fans.
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And off into the air go the England team towards Qatar. I'm still not sure if those smiles are because they are excited about going to the World Cup, or whether they are just pleased to leave the miserable late Autumn British weather for a few weeks.
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Interesting take from Lionel Messi here, who has refused to consider South American Kings Argentina as World Cup contenders, but believes England are one of three sides who could go all the way. Always knew that boy had a football brain.
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Holland missed out on the 2018 World Cup and damn do we miss the Orange Army when they are not around.
Here are some street decorations from the Hague to build up to the tournament, and what a site it is. That's going to take some beating, it really is.
HARRIET JOHNSTON: In this year's photograph, the players can be seen modelling a number of different pieces from the M&S X ENGLAND collection.
Online, the range is described as 'a new menswear partnership reflecting the personality and individuality of the England Men's Team.'
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Belgium are also on the flight out, with a very chirpy looking Romelu Lukaku and the rest of the team known as the Red Devils all set to leave their camp in Brussels.
KATE McGREAVY: USA's head coach Gregg Berhalter has spoken of the importance of the nation changing their crest to include the rainbow flag at the Qatar World Cup.
The United States made a statement at the showpiece tournament by redesigning their crest with rainbow colors to show solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community on Monday.
If you are trying to plot England's route to the final, firstly I admire your optimism, secondly here is our handy guide on the teams likely to stand in the Three Lions way if they are to go all the way.
A bit of a contrast between the Birmingham weather they depart in to the sunny arrival in Qatar don't you think?
'It's a very difficult World Cup because there are no friendly games prior to the tournament. Normally you have the players several weeks before the World Cup starts. You have training and play one or two friendly games. Now, there are no friendly games.
'I think it's very much dependent on the form the players are in currently which might not help him. Raheem Sterling has incredible pace and one against one he can dribble and win games for England but he can also do this from the bench.'
Eriksson of course took England to consecutive quarter-finals between 2002 and 2006, so he has a fair bit of knowledge here. But is this a wise call, do we forget Sterling's Euro 2020 form just like that?
He may be struggling for Chelsea but surely we can trust him a bit more with England?
Eriksson was speaking on behalf of Saxo.
KIERAN LYNCH: Infantino was speaking to world leaders at the G20 summit in Bali, just days before the tournament gets underway in Qatar.
It has been nearly nine months since Vladimir Putin ordered his country's invasion of Ukraine - with no signs that the conflict will stop anytime soon.
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The France and Tottenham captain has spoken over the political pressure the players are under, considering they are playing in a competition that could mark the pinnacle of their career. It's certainly an interesting take.
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As fans across the world pick their favourites, dark horses and surprise packages among the minnows, SofaScore has raised the stakes in the pre-tournament discussion with an exciting predictor game - and it's FREE!
SofaScore, who will be providing detailed statistical data for fans to view on Sportsmail and their own website throughout the tournament, have launched the Pick'Em game, where fans can predict the outcome of every single group and knockout game in Qatar.
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There's been a lot of questions asked over England's defence heading into the tournament, especially with neither centre-back John Stones or Harry Maguire playing the position for their club sides in recent times.
Stones though offers the case for... well... the defence.
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The England boys are off and away. The journey to the sunny climes of Qatar starts with a soggy morning bus journey from Stoke.
It's not all bad for Southgate's men though as they depart their St George's Park training camp - as a fair few fans are present to send them off with a cheer. I just hope they don't forget to bring football home this time!
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Addressing the players, Prince William said: ‘What you and Gareth have built here is something special, that’s clear to see.
‘Play for each other, support each other, enjoy it, and I’m sure you’ll go far.
‘I’m really here to point out the rest of the country is behind you, we’re all rooting for you. Enjoy it.’
The Prince of Wales has rather summed that up well I think.
Qatar has been accused of paying hundreds of 'fake fans' to sing and dance in a series of choreographed videos ahead of the World Cup.
Footage has emerged of various 'fan parades' in Doha ahead of the tournament's big kick-off this Sunday, including celebrations featuring supporters supposedly from England, Brazil, Argentina and several other nations.
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Meanwhile, it's not all so friendly down in the Portuguese camp. Mere hours after setting fire to all his Manchester United links with that extraordinary interview criticising the club, Cristiano Ronaldo has met up with his Portugal team-mates... which includes United team-mate Bruno Fernandes.
The midfielder doesn't appear to be very happy to be re-united with Ronaldo especially after this frosty greeting.
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Speaking of squad numbers, here are all of them for the England stars as they pose for casual team photos ahead of the trip out to Qatar.
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JAMIE PHILLIPS: England's World Cup squad will land in Qatar on a Gay Pride jet in a show of defiance over the host nation amid concerns over the treatment of LGBTQ+ people at the tournament.
The 26-man squad, led by manager Gareth Southgate and captain Harry Kane, will make the seven-hour flight to Doha on a 'Rain Bow' Virgin Atlantic A350 Airbus.
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Who better to start with than the England team themselves? They have all been presented with their squad number for the tournament - and in quite some style too.
The Prince of Wales has been on hand to present each player with a tidy looking presentation pack - let's hope they match nicely with the winners' medals in the display cabinet, eh?
Below Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Jack Grealish, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice all look in good spirits after meeting the Prince of Wales.
I hope so because you only have five days now before the tournament gets underway in Qatar - and as you might expect, the build up is accelerating fast.
Lots to look out again today so good morning all and welcome to our live coverage of all the World Cup build up...
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