The Peru football team have arrived in New Zealand.
Peru football fans celebrate the arrival of their team at Auckland Airport. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
The world's 10th-ranked men's side touched down in Auckland to plenty of fanfare on Tuesday morning, ahead of their World Cup playoff tie against the All Whites in Wellington on Saturday.
The international arrivals area sounded more like a football stadium as a hundred passionate Peruvians turned out to welcome their beloved national squad.
Chanting, beating drums and decked out from head to toe in red and white, the excited supporters roared as their team emerged area after arriving on a charter flight from Peru's capital Lima, via Los Angeles.
While the adoring fans, some who had been there for more than three hours, were only too happy to dance, sing and speak to the dozen or so New Zealand and Peruvian media in attendance, there was no time to talk for the players as they gave a quick wave to the crowd as they were whisked past and onto a waiting bus.
A flood of supporters followed, continue their chanting and dancing around the bus before it pulled away and headed for the central city hotel where the team will be based for the next three days.
Peru football goalkeeper Jose Carvallo waves to fans as the team touches down in New Zealand. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
The Peru squad and their sizeable coaching management group will head for Wellington on Friday morning, arriving in the capital a little more than 24 hours out from the 4.15pm kick-off time on Saturday.
In contrast, the Anthony Hudson-coached All Whites squad starting assembling in Wellington on Sunday, with all 23 players expected to be on deck by Tuesday.
The return leg of the tie is in Lima on Thursday next week.
The winner after the two matches claims a coveted spot at next year's World Cup in Russia.
