With commiserations to our New Zealand mates, who fought very hard only to fall at the very last hurdle, it is far beyond party time in Peru right now.
The South American nation defeated the Kiwis 2-0 to officially punch their ticket to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia – their first appearance in the tournament in 36 years.
The return leg of the two-game series was played in Lima earlier this afternoon, and to say Peruvians are excited about their team getting through is probably the understatement of the millennium.
It is – I cannot stress this enough – absolute fucking scenes right now.
The crowd inside the stadium were 10,000% ready to go before the opening whistle, unfurling this banner that looks like its ordinary purpose is to create artificial night.
#Peru have never been so ready for anything in their entire life.#PERvNZL #WCQ #ArribaPeru pic.twitter.com/sOVlvuD2WR
— Fubo (@fuboTV) November 16, 2017
And then it kicked up several other notches after the home side locked away the game-sealing goal.
https://twitter.com/JCaineNZ/status/931004369599913984
The President of Peru, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, promised his people that the day after the game would be declared a national holiday in the event that the side won and subsequently qualified for the World Cup. And ah… it looks like people are pretty dang happy about that.
They are going absolutely BOONTA all across the country.
Peru win the soccer game with New Zealand! Awesome 1st goal! Celebrations in the streets of Miraflores! #soccer #Peru #WorldCup https://t.co/jcPK7K0Sef pic.twitter.com/2JGD0R36zs
— Travel South America (@SthAmerica) November 16, 2017
.@SeleccionPeru fans in tears after their team qualified for the @FIFAWorldCup for the first time since 1982. Congratulations Peru! #PERvNZL pic.twitter.com/PiycGSB5ft
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_AUS) November 16, 2017
it’s a great feeling looking forward to @fifaworldcup_es vamos Peru! Congrats for halftime highlights! pic.twitter.com/4HoGfymyhp
— Juan Carlos Ramirez Gaston (@juanfutbol5) November 16, 2017
S C E N E S.
Peru’s qualification officially locks away the 32 nations who are set to compete in Russia next year, including Australia who qualified last night. Peep the list.
IT’S OFFICIAL! Peru are through!
All 32 nations to play in Russia 2018 = confirmed.https://t.co/50m8SDwvag pic.twitter.com/WaEuFozxvO
— Fox Football (@FOXFOOTBALL) November 16, 2017
Whichever way you look at it, that is a wild assortment of nations. The World Cup is gonna be loose as hell next year, mates. Get ready.
