World Cup 2022: Wales savour their moment in time after 64 years away

There are people at the World Cup. It repeats. Don't worry, drink it in.

For most of your life, the idea of Wales playing at a World Cup has been a fantasy.

Being a Welsh football fan is to be hopeful. For the most optimistic among them, the sport's greatest competition has brought with it a lot of reality.

There have been close calls from Scotland to the Republic of Ireland. They are etched in the collective memory and have periods of miserable failure.

To be a Welsh fan you have to accept that Wales aren't in the World Cup and pick another country to support every four years.

For 64 years, to be a Welsh fan has been to stand outside in the cold and look out at the crowd.

The end of a 58-year wait for a major tournament was satisfying. The joy of the summer in France was sweeter because of the pain of the previous year.

There were tears in the rain in Zenica, the anthem in Bordeaux filled Welsh hearts, and the win over Belgium lifted Wales to a higher plane.

The World Cup didn't go as planned.

The World Cup history of Wales was wiped away in the pouring rain.

This was a moment of arrival, return and profound endurance all at the same time as Dafydd Iwan joined the players on the pitch. Wales remained here despite everything.

They are at the World Cup.

The group of players are inspired by history, but not worn down. They embrace the magnitude of what they represent, they are familiar with the failures of their predecessors, and they are not held back by the failures of their predecessors.

The past adds weight and depth to the experience of the supporters. It is the present and the hope it carries for the future that is most important.

The football team is one of the most visible and vibrant expressions of identity in this country.

On and off the field, there are people who do Wales proud, from the players to the fans who have helped establish a distinct image of Welshness.

It's more than a game, it's a community and a vibe. The anthem, bucket hats, jerseys, and the music are what the manager says.

The World Cup is not the same as before. The tournament should not be in the Middle East.

There are many reasons why this country is a controversial host for a World Cup, from its human rights record to its stance on the LGBTQ+ community.

There aren't many reasons for this country to host a World Cup. It's natural for visitors to feel conflicted.

Can you imagine seeing Wales at a World Cup? It's something to enjoy. The backdrop to this competition is complex and controversial but it is still a time for Wales.

For a few minutes before the opening game against the United States on Monday, nothing else matters.

It might be a long time before we see it again, because Wales have waited a long time for this.

Try and let it sink in that Wales will be at the World Cup. Feel it, don't fight it.

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