Honduran PhD student Marian Calix has lived in Australia for four years and she says it is not only her husband and children back in her homeland she misses.
"I also miss Honduran gastronomy. It's quite different from Australia, for sure," Ms Calix says as she pulls the Honduran snack tamales from the fridge of her Canberra apartment.
"It's very difficult to find the right ingredients to prepare my home country meals."
The dish's main ingredients are rice, olives and potatoes wrapped in banana leaves.
But as important as food is to Honduran culture, so is football, she says.
"For us it's also attached to our culture. It's not only a sport, it's something that means a lot for identity," Ms Calix said.
Honduras is vying for its fourth World Cup finals and in their way, the Socceroos.
Ms Calix will travel to Sydney for the second play-off leg next week.
But ahead of the first leg in Honduras on Saturday, she's watched the Australian media bash her country and focus on crime statistics.
One commercial program even drew comparisons between Honduras and terror group IS.
There can be no denying the country's terrible homicide rate, but proud locals like Ms Calix feel the tag "murder capital" of the world is misunderstood and overused.
They say the violence is limited to between rival gangs and point to the positive experiences of Australian travellers who've gone to Honduras in support of the Socceroos.
"It's not only an offence, but also highly irresponsible," Ms Calix said.
"Honduran people are very warm, and kind and hospitable."
One man who knows about the passion of Latin American football is Rale Rasic, the man who coached Australia to its first ever world cup appearance in 1974.
He says underestimating the small Central American nation would come at Australia's peril.
Rale Rasic in his Australian Football Museum Source: SBS
"You have to understand Latinos. They don't talk about prime minister, they don't talk about the treasurer at the moment, they talk only about a game against Australia," Rasic said.
The Socceroos' opponents have also endulged in some pre-game hubris of their own.
This week David Suazo, arguably Honduras' greatest ever player, said Australia lacks an important football tradition.
But taking a look around Rasic's Australian Football Museum in Western Sydney, all you see is tradition - jerseys, team photos, trophies, mementos adorn the walls and cabinets.
The veteran of Australian football knows that when it counts, Australians will get behind the national team.
"We are a competitive nation. We are united. Bet every dollar that 80,000 people will be there with green and gold supporting," Rasic said.
