Peruvian World Cup Fever Prevails
The 2018 FIFA World Cup is under way and World Cup fever is a real thing at the moment. In many ways, however, the World Cup isn’t what it was. It is no longer occupies the role of being the main reference for top quality football. This is mainly because it seems to have lost its prominence and esteem with European football clubs. In fact, European club football hands over its players into the welcoming arms of the World Cup in a state of exhaustion after running the players into the red during the tiring club season.
However, the magic of the World Cup is about more than just its position of esteem in Europe or club season. It’s about people coming together from all over the world to celebrate a shared passion for football. This is what provides pure magic, and this time round, much of that magic is coming from Peru.
36 Years In The Waiting
Peru last qualified for the World Cup in 1982 – that’s a whopping 36 years ago. That particular year the white and red was sported in Spain, and yes, it was a truly epic World Cup. But it must also be said that at the time, the Peruvian attendees were either the elite and the wealthy, or those living in Europe in any event. Ordinary Peruvian citizens simply did not have the means to travel the world, let alone attend an event the size of the World Cup.
Make no mistake, even today, it is no cheap affair to travel from Lima to Russia. The most affordable travel package available to someone living in Peru was going at a rate of around $6,000. It is roughly 10 times the average person working in Peru’s monthly salary.
Despite the heavy price tag, FIFA has reported that more than 43,000 tickets had been sold to people travelling from Peru. Of all 31 countries visiting Russia this year, only 6 nations bought more tickets than Peru.
Now that’s saying something about Peruvian passion.
A Game For Ordinary People
Interestingly enough, no sober Peruvian travelled to Russia hoping to come back with the trophy. For Peruvians, it’s simply an opportunity to support what they love. And in many ways too, to claim their spot on the map and to show the world that they exist. Regardless of whether they back their team in Russia or put money down on them while NZ sports betting, they want to show they are proud of their men and are behind them all the way- however far that may be.
There is much in the way of the spirit of the World Cup to be found in the attendance of the Peruvian people. In essence, it strips the international event of its elitist cloak of previous years. It’s proof that the World Cup has the power to bring the nations together in a very special and unpretentious way
