An undersea earthquake off the coast of Peru kills 70,000 people and leaves nearly a million people homeless. Two days later Peru is scheduled to play their 1970 FIFA World Cup opener. This is a tale of football’s restorative power and spirit.

The Class of 1970: Peru and Teofilo Cubillas Against the Ancash earthquake — Art by Debanjan.

It’s the last day of May in 1970 and an undersea earthquake 35 kilometres off the coast of Peru triggers one of the most catastrophic natural disasters in recorded history.

The earthquake engenders an avalanche of rock, ice and snow almost 3000 ft wide and 1.6 km long that marauds into coastal Peruvian towns burying everyone and everything in its path. The ensuing carnage takes the lives of almost 70,000 people and leaves nearly a million people homeless.

Some 5,000 kilometres away in Mexico, the Peruvian national football team is delineated following the horrifying events back home. The team is scheduled to play Bulgaria in their 1970 FIFA World Cup opener two days later; now against the backdrop of a national tragedy.