The one-by-two-metre flag has the full support of the English Football Association but could cause considerable controversy in the host nation.

During the opening game of the tournament last week, Alexander Agapov, president of the Russian LGBT Sport Federation made headlines by waving a smaller rainbow flag.

Now, as the hours count down towards England’s opening match, even the organiser Di Cunningham, Chair of Pride in Football, is expressing her concerns;

“There have been a lot of LGBT+ fans who have felt unable to come and who have expressed that concern, and have expressed concern for people like me that are coming,”

[I’m getting] constant messages, saying “stay safe”. It is very nice but actually, it raises your anxiety levels even more.

While same-sex relationships were decriminalised in Russia in 1993, LGBT+ couples still do not receive the same rights as opposite-sex couples and there are currently no laws prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation.

England’s match versus Tunisia kicks off at 7pm tonight, with live coverage on BBC1.