Cape Verde's underdog journey has another layer to it: Its unheralded kit sponsor

XtraTime Newsdesk: Cape Verde are the ultimate undeeds of this tournament. Their performance has enthralled fans not only in their home country but in othed places as well. Goalkeeper Vozinha became a star overnight because of his performance vs Spain. It's no surprise hence that their kit sponsor is also a company which is also trying to be an "insurgent" in this business. 

Capelli Sport believes it was fate that brought them.together. Back in 2025, they signed a deal with their first national team in Serbia with theor aim being to showcase their brand but the Balkan team couldn't qualify for the World Cup. The New York based brand again wanted a way into the tournament.That opportunity came in the form of Cape Verde. When the small island nation qualified for the touney for the very first time, Capelli called them and withim two months, a deal was signed between the two. 

For George Altirs, the Lebanon-born owner of the New York-based company, it was the perfect partnership: a pair of underdogs going to their first World Cups, both with a story to tell of belief and belonging.

“It’s a dream, it’s impossible,” Altirs said. He believed that there would be a lot of visibility because of who Cape Verde wede playing in the group stages. “Against Spain, every European fan is gonna see it. We play against Saudi Arabia, OK, and then the whole Arab, Middle Eastern (region) is gonna see it. And we’ll play against Uruguay and the whole of South America is gonna see it,” Altirs said. “So put it together. I’m a believer. I believe things really are written for us.”

Altirs probably never thought that the "Os Tubarões Azui(The Blue Sharks)" will perform like this on football's biggest stage. It has significantly increased the visibility of their brand. The team is now in every one of their promotional materials and is prominently featured in their website.