FIFA fever in Kerala is traditional: World Cup-themed dhotis are becoming hot favourites

Kerala’s passion for football came to the fore again during the FIFA World Cup with fans embracing the tournament in a uniquely local way. Along with the usual barrage of jerseys, giant posters and flex banners, the football-themed hotshots have become one of the biggest attractions in the entire state.

Shops in several parts of Kerala, including Thrissur, sell dhotis inspired by the colors and patterns of popular footballing countries such as Argentina, Brazil and Portugal. Displayed on mannequins alongside matching jerseys, the traditional attire drew crowds and became a topic of discussion among football fans.

Shop owners say demand for the customized kit has matched and in some cases rivaled sales of team jerseys during this World Cup.

“We sold mostly mundu (dhotis), especially those from Portugal, Argentina and Brazil,” said the owner of Puthuma Collections in Wadakkanchery, Thrissur.

“This time we sold a lot of mundus alongside jerseys with the same print. As expected, Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappe and Neymar jerseys were in high demand.”

The trend once again underscores Kerala’s unique football culture, where global sporting celebrations are often mixed with local traditions, giving World Cup celebrations a distinctly Malaysian flavour.