Entrant Company
Area 23, an IPG Health Company
Entry Type
Teams, Leagues, Governing Bodies, & Associations
Category
61 Seconds to 5 Minutes
In Brazil, football is more than sport — it’s identity, unity, and pride. But even in this shared passion, Indigenous communities remain invisible. Gavião Kyikatejê FC is the first and only professional Indigenous football team in the country. Despite their history and performance, they had never received a single sponsorship.
The turning point came when Brazil’s most decorated coach publicly used the phrase “not a team of Indians” to describe disorganization. For Indigenous peoples, it was another reminder of how prejudice is normalized in sport and language.
On Indigenous Resistance Day, we responded with a bold manifesto — not in anger, but with pride. Filmed in the Gavião village on 16mm, voiced in the community’s original language, and enriched with illustrations inspired by their body painting, the film told their story to a nation that barely knew they existed. The team’s jersey became more than a kit — it became an open invitation to brands to stand for equity.
The campaign exploded organically: free airtime on national TV, exhibition at Latin America’s largest football museum, endorsement from football legends, and official support from the State Government. Within weeks, Gavião secured over R$500,000 in long-term sponsorships — a historic first — funding youth programs, facilities, and infrastructure.
More than transforming one club, the initiative reframed Indigenous identity in Brazilian football, inspired support for other Indigenous teams, and erased “team of Indians” from sports interviews. It proved that when culture, sport, and purpose align, the game can truly change.