During the 2026 World Cup, Honey Fitz Irish pub on Astoria’s Broadway in Queens became a go-to place for supporters of the Cabo Verde team, which had an incredible group stage run into the round of 32, when it pushed Argentina into overtime.
The support at Honey Fitz came about because of one of the Cabo Verde players, Pico Lopes, who was born and brought up in Dublin and whose Dad is from Cabo Verde. Ireland didn’t qualify for this World Cup, so when Honey Fitz’ co-owner Sean Doran was thinking about how to do something special for the World Cup he landed on the idea of supporting Cabo Verde, which happened to have the one Irish player in this tournament. Things grew from there.
Ahead of Cabo Verde’s June 26 match against Saudi Arabia, supporters shared what made Cabo Verde’s run – and the community of fans at Honey Fitz – so special.
“Here we are in match three for Cabo Verde, and we’re all super excited to be supporting them,” said Atlanta Amado, who was born in NYC to a mother from Cabo Verde. Having this place “has meant everything. It feels really really powerful to be seen. Like, a lot of us our entire lives people have assumed we were Dominican, or Brazilian, and to have this place – like steps from home, we are all in walking distance – it literally gives me chills.
During matches, people have been friendly and warm, when I walk around the city with my Cape Verdean gear on. It’s like what the United Nations should be.”
Co-owner Sean Doran says: “It feels good to be finally supporting a team that’s doing well! There’s great excitement around, everyone’s in a happy mood.”
Check out more:
- Honey Fitz on Instagram
- New York Times: “Why everyone in this Irish pub is rooting for Cape Verde’s soccer team“
- Listen to the conversations with Atlanta, Ten, Kathryn and Kevin, and Sean
- Highlights from Cabo Verde v. Argentina: final 2-3 in overtime (click image to watch)
