Honduras outraged at The Project's controversial comments

Tensions between Australia and Honduras have reached an all-time high after a recent interview with Tim Cahill on The Project left the Central American nation deeply offended.

With Cahill making a guest appearance on the nightly news show, panellist and comedian Peter Helliar, alongside co-host Waleed Aly, turned things sour with a host of controversial jokes ahead of Saturday's first leg.

After Cahill answered co-host Carrie Bickmore's appropriate question regarding the Socceroos' chances, Aly said: "I decided to do some googling of Honduras and it turns out we're going to San Pedro Sula which apparently is, or once was, the murder capital of the world.

"So, anyway, good luck without me. Do you think it's a good idea that you win?"

While Australia's greatest ever goalscorer did his best to direct the interview back on track and promote his side's hopes of reaching a fourth consecutive World Cup, Helliar had one more joke up his sleeve.

"So you beat Syria. Now you're going to the murder capital of the world," Helliar said. "If you win this, I think you play ISIS."

The comments have since reached Honduran media, prompting the nation's football president Jorge Salomon to call a press conference addressing the incident.

"We are upset with some Australian media that have put the name of Honduras in bad (taste), they have played with the name of our country, that has bothered us all and I think it is something we cannot allow, " Salomon told website Diario Mas.

With Cahill now in Honduras and trying to recover from an ankle injury he suffered whilst playing for Melbourne City last Friday night, the 37-year-old took it upon himself to try and resolve the situation.

"As players, we respect the country and people, which is most important," Cahill said. "What media say is different to what players think. I'm happy here in Honduras. 

"I know Victor Bernardez as a player and he used to play for the national team. For (Honduras captain Maynor) Figueroa too, we have the utmost respect."