Cape Verde's jersey ranks in the top 10 of the U.S. website The Athletic's rankings

Cape Verde's home jersey ranks in the top 10 of the list of the best jerseys for the 2026 World Cup compiled by the U.S. website The Athletic, part of The New York Times Group. Published this week, the ranking analyzes the kits of the 48 participating teams not only as sportswear but also as expressions of design and cultural identity.

In the analysis, written by journalist Nick Miller, the kits are evaluated based on design, creativity, and historical and cultural references, highlighting models inspired by elements such as passports, graphic symbolism, and innovative patterns. The author also describes the World Cup as a major showcase of design and sports culture, beyond the competition on the field.

Cape Verde’s home jersey ranks 10th, with the journalist praising the concept developed by Cappelli Sports for the kit.

“In most cases, the stories behind soccer jersey designs leave me indifferent. Often, they represent an interesting tribute to a country’s culture and traditions; at other times, they end up being somewhat forced references. However, as long as the jersey looks good, that isn’t particularly important.

In the case of the Cape Verde jersey, however, the situation is different. The triangular patterns in the design were inspired by the flight routes between the islands that make up the archipelago—a clever, original idea with meaning that also works aesthetically. My congratulations to everyone involved,” writes Nick Miller.

TOP 10 of the ranking
Ghana
Brazil
England
Germany
Morocco
Saudi Arabia
Spain
Australia
Belgium
Cape Verde

At the other end of the ranking, Croatia’s jersey occupies the 48th and last position, described by the journalist as a design that fell far short of expectations.

This is the jersey the Blue Sharks will wear in their historic debut match at the 2026 World Cup, scheduled for June 15 in Atlanta, United States, where the Blue Sharks will face Spain at Mercedes-Benz Stadium at 3:00 p.m. The government has already granted a half-day off for the afternoon of that Monday.

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