United States government officials approved a visa on Wednesday for the mother of Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, enabling her to attend her son's next World Cup match against Uruguay in Miami on Sunday.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced the development after coordinating with U. S.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio to resolve travel barriers caused by federal visa policies.
The 40-year-old goalkeeper, who plays for Portuguese second-division club Chaves, drew international attention after making seven saves during a 0-0 draw against tournament favorites Spain in Atlanta on Monday.
Following Cape Verde's tournament debut, the athlete revealed that financial demands and strict immigration regulations prevented his mother, Ana Candida Evora, from witnessing the game in person.
Under the "Visa Bond Pilot Program" implemented by President Donald Trump's administration, citizens from 50 nations, including Cape Verde, must post bonds ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 to secure tourist visas.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries intervened following the match to expedite the administrative process alongside the State Department and FIFA officials.
"I thank Secretary Rubio, U. S.
State Department officials, the government of Cabo Verde and FIFA for working together to make this possible," said Jeffries.
The congressional leader emphasized that all standard entry fees were waived to facilitate the family reunion before Sunday's Group Stage fixture.
"No mother should miss the chance to see her child make history," said Jeffries.
The U. S.
State Department initially stated it had no record of an official visa application, noting later that its consular team in Praia was actively assisting Evora, who reportedly lacked a valid passport.
In May, Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar confirmed that the administration waived certain bond mandates for qualifying tournament participants and immediate relatives, though critics argued the adjustment came too late for many international fans.
Prior to the policy waiver, the goalkeeper expressed the financial strain the travel regulations imposed on his family members.
"The U. S.
rules changed and we had to pay a very big tax to bring my mum here and other brothers I have," said Vozinha.
The Cape Verde international, who became the oldest player to debut in a nation's first-ever World Cup match at 40 years and 12 days old, experienced an emotional post-match reaction.
"I cried after the game because I grew up with my grandparents when I was a kid, and they could not be there," said Vozinha.
The veteran player, whose career spans 91 international appearances across clubs in Cyprus, Slovakia, Moldova, and Cape Verde, saw his Instagram following surge from 50,000 to 12.6 million within three days of the Spain match.
The restrictive travel policies also drew complaints from other international teams participating in the tournament, including African squads facing partial travel bans signed by President Trump in December.
"It’s true that some supporters couldn’t fly to America," said Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly.
The tournament structure continues this week as Cape Verde prepares for its second group stage match against Uruguay at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
