The Kerala cafe where your server could be Messi today and Yamal tomorrow

As the FIFA World Cup fever sweeps across Kerala, one restaurant in Perumbavoor has found a fun way to celebrate it. Every day, the entire staff at Kavi's Cafe turns up to work wearing the jersey of the team that won the previous day's match. The football-themed tradition has now gone global after a video from the cafe was shared on Neymar Jr.'s official Instagram page, earning attention from fans and even Brazilian media.

A jersey for every win
The viral clip featured the staff dressed in Neymar jerseys. Since then, the jerseys have kept changing with the tournament. On one day it was Spain's young star Lamine Yamal, on another it was England. Earlier, the team had already sported Argentina jerseys. At Kavi's Cafe, the tea maker, chefs, servers and cashiers transform into football icons like Neymar, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal, depending on the day's football story.

Customers have joined in on the fun too. Many stop to click selfies with the jersey-clad staff before digging into their meals. Around 50 people work at the restaurant, including locals from Kerala as well as employees from Tamil Nadu, Assam and West Bengal. While everyone has their favourite teams and players, the idea is to celebrate football itself by giving every team its moment.

"Perumbavoor has a passionate football culture, much like Malappuram. We wanted to channel that excitement into something positive and memorable during the World Cup," says restaurant owner M P Dileep. "I'm a die-hard Argentina fan, but our staff support different teams. That's exactly why everyone enjoys wearing different jerseys throughout the tournament."

A dosa for Neymar
The football theme doesn't stop at the uniforms. To thank Neymar for putting the cafe in the global spotlight, Kavi's Cafe has even introduced a Neymar Special Dosa.

The celebrations are only getting bigger. Before the July 20 final, life-size cut-outs of football stars who have featured in this World Cup, including Kerala's own Tahseen Mohammed, who represented Qatar, will be installed outside the restaurant. On the day of the final, the staff will split into two groups, each wearing the jersey of one of the finalists, and the match will be screened live at the cafe, turning it into a mini football fan zone.