After an absence of 36 years, Rospigliosi wasn't missing out on watching his beloved La Blanquirroja play in Russia and small details like no ticket or fan ID didn’t faze him - it was the 2018 World Cup or bust.

Leaving his Latin American grocery store Tienda Latina in Ashfield to the care of a friend, Rospigliosi embarked on his quest to Russia and didn’t care if it was just for one game.

“Why not?” he said speaking to FourFourTwo.

“I wanted to support my team and see the euphoria of all the Peru fans together and everybody screaming and jumping – I just knew that had I to get into that wagon.”

With Russia being strict with fans who had no tickets and no fan ID, Rospigliosi benefited from Peru’s good diplomatic ties with the host country and eased past security at Moscow airport.

After navigating long queues, he eventually got his ticket for the Denmark v Peru game and his fan ID - he was set but getting to the Mordovia Arena was now his biggest issue.

With the game on the next day Rospigliosi organised a 2am pickup with Peru fans he met in a bar but the bus never arrived.

After calling a Russian cab driver and parting with €850 (AUS $1,343) he finally made it to Saranz nine hours later and soon enough was able to take in the atmosphere of Peru’s opening group game.

“I met up with a number of Australian-based Peruvians and as we headed to the stadium it was sea of red,” he said.

“Three quarters of the stadium was full of Peru fans and just before the game started they played an old classical Peruvian song and everyone sang the lyrics, ‘if I’m going to die please bury me back on earth in Peru'.

“We also chanted the fan song throughout the game, ‘How am I not going to love you my beloved Peru the one that gave birth to me.’

“It was some pretty emotional shit man.”