Cape Verde Goalkeeper Vozinha's Mother Granted U.S. Visa: 'Going to See My Son'

The mother of Cape Verde's 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, who emerged as a star of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after making a series of super saves against Spain's relentless attacks, has finally been granted a U.S. visa and will reunite with her son at the stadium.
AP, Reuters, and other news agencies reported on the 18th (Korea Standard Time) that "Ana Candida Evora (59), the mother of Cape Verde's heroic goalkeeper Vozinha, will be in the stands when he plays in the Group H second match against Uruguay at Miami Stadium on the 22nd," adding that "U.S. authorities took swift action to ensure she received her visa in time for the Uruguay match."
Hakeem Jeffries, the U.S. House Minority Leader, stated, "No mother should miss the moment her child makes history," adding, "I spoke with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and requested that the State Department take every possible measure within its authority."
He explained, "It is an honor to share the news that Vozinha's mother has received her visa in time to attend the next match. All visa fees were waived in accordance with official policy, and we are coordinating the schedule so that mother and son can reunite in Miami."
The veteran Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha led his team to a 0-0 draw against tournament favorites Spain in the Group H opening match held at Atlanta Stadium in Georgia on the 16th, recording seven saves.
However, Vozinha's mother was unable to watch her son play in person at the stadium.
To prevent illegal overstays after visa expiration, the U.S. government had required citizens of certain countries, including Cape Verde, to deposit a bond of up to $15,000 (approximately 23 million KRW) when applying for a tourist visa.
The Trump administration issued a bond waiver for ticket holders from five World Cup participating nations, including Cape Verde, last month, but faced criticism that the decision came too late.
Vozinha's mother had initially given up on traveling to the U.S. due to the burden of massive travel expenses, including airfare and accommodation. Once her story was revealed through the media, U.S. political figures immediately stepped in to help.
Ultimately, Vozinha's mother was quickly granted a U.S. visa and is expected to head to the United States soon.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.