It's a cold morning under lead-gray skies, but the fans who've trooped to Lima's El Porvenir neighborhood are hot to start the Little World Cup — their annual street soccer championship.

To score good seats, people camp out the night before, lining the road where the games have packed the streets every May 1 for a half century. Others pay the equivalent of $2 for a balcony view from apartment buildings to catch the games that Peruvians also call "The People's Party."

The working-class neighborhood ritual in El Porvenir began in the 1950s as a challenge to the Manuel Odria military dictatorship when playing in the streets was forbidden.

The tournament has been a big focus for Peruvian fans for a while, because the country's national team hasn't qualified to play in international soccer's World Cup since 1982.

"Here they play no holds barred. This is for 'machos' and it's crazy to be a referee," said one fan, Teodoro Aquino, who was sipping beer with friends before the day's first game. Aquino has attended the championship for four decades in his crime-ridden corner of the capital.

In this Monday, May 1, 2017, Teodoro Aquino, left, drinks beer with his friends before the start of Little World Cup Porvenir street soccer championship in Lima, Peru. “Here they play no holds barred. This is for ‘machos’ and it’s crazy to be a referee,” explained Aquino who has witnessed this championship for four decades in his crime-ridden corner of the capital. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

All 56 teams bring along their most fervent fans to defend each goal, and disputes can come to blows, so about 50 anti-riot police officers guarded the asphalt pitch at this year's competition. Police beat back fans trying to invade the field during breaks between games and vendors worked the crowd selling gelatin and baked potatoes.

The referees get special protection since half the spectators never agree with a call and the most disgruntled are apt to throw bottles and chicken bones. But the referees don't mince their words and seem to be immune to pressure coming from the stands.

Players stop to pray before entering the pitch and fans light flares from the sidelines.

At the end of the day, after 30 games, the team from the capital's Purito Barrios Altos neighborhood took home this year's trophy, a $2,500 cash prize and 12 pairs of soccer cleats. One supporter of the winning team threatened rival fans who challenged the final result as he trotted around showing off his team's trophy.

In this Monday, May 1, 2017 photo, soccer fans watch from an apartment balcony, which they rented for about $2 dollars, as their teams compete at the Little World Cup Porvenir street soccer championship in Lima, Peru. The annual ritual is Peru's most famous futsal. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

In this Monday, May 1, 2017 photo, police surround a referee during the Little World Cup Porvenir street soccer championship in Lima, Peru. Referees get special protection at this event because half the spectators never agree with their calls and toss at them bottles and chicken bones. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

In this Monday, May 1, 2017, police are interspersed among fans on the sidelines of the final Little World Cup Porvenir street soccer final championship game in Lima, Peru. All 56 teams bring their fans to defend each goal, even if it comes to blows, so about 50 anti-riot police line the pitch. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

In this Monday, May 1, 2017 photo, a soccer fan lights a flare from an apartment building balcony overlooking the Little World Cup Porvenir street soccer championship in Lima, Peru. The working-class neighborhood ritual in El Porvenir began in the 1950s as a challenge to the Manuel Odria military dictatorship when playing in the streets was forbidden. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

In this Monday, May 1, 2017 photo, residents crowd the balconies of an apartment building to watch soccer teams "La Polvora," (Gun Powder) and "Los Chatarreros" (The Scrappers) play a semi-final game at the Little World Cup Porvenir street soccer championship in Lima, Peru. Residents pay about $2 dollars for a balcony view of the annual ritual. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

In this Monday, May 1, 2017 photo, coach Nestor Paredes huddles with his players before their semi-final game at the Little World Cup Porvenir street soccer championship in Lima, Peru. The wining team takes home this year’s trophy, a $2,500 cash prize and 12 pairs of soccer cleats. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

In this Monday, May 1, 2017 photo, the soccer team "Porvenir Unidad" prays before their game at the Little World Cup Porvenir street soccer championship in the Porvenir neighborhood of Lima, Peru. The annual May ritual saw 30 games played in the area's streets. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

In this Monday, May 1, 2017 photo, a vender sells jello from the goal area during a pause at the The Little World Cup of Provenir street soccer championship in Lima, Peru. The tournament has been a big focus for Peruvian fans for a while, because the country’s national team hasn't qualified to play in international soccer’s World Cup since 1982. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

In this Monday, May 1, 2017 photo, teams "Purito Barrios Altos" and "Ají San Cosme" play the final game at the Little World Cup of Provenir street soccer championship in Lima, Peru. The tournament has been a big focus for Peruvian fans for a while, because the country’s national team hasn't qualified to play in international soccer’s World Cup since 1982. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

In this Monday, May 1, 2017, a food vendor works the crowd during a break at the Little World Cup of Provenir street soccer championship in Lima, Peru. His tray is filled with plates of baked potatoes, boiled eggs and a spicy cream. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

In this May 1, 2017 photo, people watch the Little World Cup of Provenir street soccer championship from an apartment roof top, for which they pay about $2 dollars, in Lima, Peru. To score good seats, people camp out the night before, lining the road where the games have packed the streets every May 1 for a half century. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

In this Monday, May 1, 2017, a woman helps a little girl down from a rooftop where fans watch the Little World Cup of Provenir street soccer championship in Lima, Peru. Spectators pay $2 dollars for a balcony view in apartment buildings to catch the games also known as The People's Party. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

In this Monday, May 1, 2017 photo, a fan of the "Purito Barrios Altos" soccer team holds high his team's trophy as he hugs a player after the Little World Cup of Provenir street soccer championship in Lima, Peru. The team clenched the championship after a day of 30 back-to-back games. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

In this Monday, May 1, 2017 photo, fans of rival soccer teams argue at the end of the final game of Little World Cup of Provenir street soccer championship in Lima, Peru. The working-class neighborhood ritual in El Porvenir began in the 1950s as a challenge to the Manuel Odria military dictatorship when playing in the streets was forbidden. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

In this Monday, May 1, 2017 photo, soccer fans force themselves past police during an interval between games at the Little World Cup of Provenir street soccer championship in Lima, Peru. Dozens of teams bring their fans to defend each goal, even if it comes to blows, so anti-riot police line the pitch. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

In this Monday, May 1, 2017 photo, a fan of the "Purito Barrios Altos" soccer team yells at rival fans who don't agree with the referee's decision as he runs with his team's trophy after the Little World Cup of Provenir street soccer championship in Lima, Peru. All 56 teams bring their fans to defend each goal, even if it comes to blows, so about 50 anti-riot police line the pitch. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

Text from the AP news story, AP PHOTOS: Street soccer tournament packs Lima neighborhood, by Martin Mejia.

Photos by Martin Mejia

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