US State Department expedites visa for Cape Verde goalkeeper's mother after World Cup match
After Cape Verde’s 0-0 draw with Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Atlanta, goalkeeper Vozinha revealed his mother could not attend due to US visa bond costs and lack of a passport. The US State Department intervened, confirming family members of players are eligible for bond waivers and assisting in expediting her passport and visa so she can attend the match against Uruguay. The incident highlights broader visa difficulties faced by African and Asian teams during the tournament.
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Chinese Businessman Helps Cape Verde Goalkeeper's Mother Travel to World Cup
After Cape Verde's 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha earned Man of the Match with seven saves in a 0-0 draw against Spain at the World Cup, he broke down in tears, saying his mother couldn't afford visa fees to watch him play. Chinese businessman Lin Jie, who has lived in Cape Verde for 23 years and employs Vozinha's cousin, visited the goalkeeper's home on June 16. He helped Vozinha's mother obtain a US visa and saw her off at the airport with a Yiwu-made suitcase. Lin Jie posted on Weibo that his 'simple act of kindness' fulfilled a mother's wish and left the goalkeeper without regrets. The article also explores Lin Jie's life in Cape Verde and the country's passion for football.
虎扑 - 足球Visa battle for mother of Cape Verde footballer puts spotlight on nation and its military heritage
The article reports on a visa issue that prevented the mother of Cape Verdean goalkeeper Josimar 'Vozinha' Dias from attending his World Cup debut, where he set a Guinness World Record for oldest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw against Spain. The visa problem was resolved after House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries intervened with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, waiving the $15,000 fee. The incident drew attention to Cape Verde's long history of service in the U.S. military, including Joachim Pease, a Civil War sailor considered by many to be the first African-born recipient of the Medal of Honor. Cape Verde later earned a 2-2 draw against Uruguay, scoring its first-ever World Cup goal.
Navy TimesVisa battle for mother of Cape Verde footballer puts spotlight on nation and its military heritage
The article reports on visa issues preventing the mother of Cape Verde goalie Josimar 'Vozinha' Dias from attending his World Cup debut, where he kept a clean sheet against Spain. U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries intervened with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, waiving the $15,000 visa fees, allowing Vozinha's mother to attend the next match against Uruguay. The incident draws attention to Cape Verde's deep historical ties to the U.S., including a storied legacy of military service dating back to the American Revolution. Notable is Joachim Pease, a Cape Verdean sailor aboard the USS Kearsarge during the Civil War who received the Medal of Honor, considered the first African-born recipient of the award. Cape Verde's soccer team has also garnered attention with a historic draw against Uruguay.
Navy TimesVisa battle for mother of Cape Verde footballer puts spotlight on nation and its military heritage
The mother of Cape Verde national team goalkeeper Josimar 'Vozinha' Dias was initially unable to attend his World Cup debut due to a $15,000 visa issue and red tape. After Dias’s record-setting clean sheet against Spain, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries intervened with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, leading to the fees being waived. Dias’s mother attended the subsequent match against Uruguay. The story highlighted Cape Verde’s deep ties to the United States, particularly its military heritage. The article notes that Cape Verdeans have served in the U.S. military since the American Revolution, including Joachim Pease, considered by some to be the first African-born Medal of Honor recipient for his service in the Union Navy during the Civil War. The team’s resilient World Cup performance also drew attention to the small island nation.
Army TimesVisa Dispute Over Goalie's Mother Highlights Cape Verde and Its US Military Legacy
The article reports on visa issues preventing the mother of Cape Verdean goalkeeper Josimar 'Vozinha' Dias from attending his World Cup matches. Following his record-breaking shutout of Spain and an emotional plea, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries intervened with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, waiving $15,000 in fees and allowing her to attend the subsequent Uruguay match. The incident draws attention to Cape Verde's deep historical ties to the United States, including a long tradition of military service dating back to the American Revolution. The article highlights Joachim Pease, a Cape Verdean sailor who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Civil War, considered the first African-born recipient of the award.
Army TimesVisa battle for mother of Cape Verde footballer puts spotlight on nation and its military heritage
The article details a visa dispute involving Josimar 'Vozinha' Dias, the 40-year-old Cape Verde national team goalkeeper who set a Guinness World Record for oldest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in a World Cup debut, holding Spain to a 0-0 draw. His mother was initially unable to attend due to a $15,000 visa fee issue, which House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries resolved with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, allowing her to watch the subsequent 2-2 draw against Uruguay. The story highlights Cape Verde's military heritage, including Joachim Pease, a Cape Verdean sailor aboard the USS Kearsarge during the Civil War who is considered the first African-born Medal of Honor recipient. The piece underscores the nation's resilience and long-standing ties to the United States, from colonial whaling days to present-day military service.
Military TimesVisa battle for mother of Cape Verde footballer puts spotlight on nation and its military heritage
The article reports on a visa dispute involving the mother of Cape Verdean goalkeeper Josimar 'Vozinha' Dias, which highlighted the nation's deep military ties to the United States. Vozinha, 40, earned a Guinness World Record for oldest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in a World Cup debut during a 0-0 draw with Spain. He was unable to have his mother attend due to a $15,000 visa issue. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the only Cape Verdean-descended member of Congress, worked with Secretary of State Marco Rubio to waive the fees, allowing her to attend the subsequent 2-2 draw with Uruguay. The article also details Cape Verde's long history of service in the U.S. military, including Joachim Pease, a Civil War sailor considered by some to be the first African-born Medal of Honor recipient.
Military TimesVisa Battle for Mother of Cape Verde Goalie Highlights Nation's Military Heritage
The visa struggle for the mother of Cape Verdean goalkeeper Josimar 'Vozinha' Dias has drawn attention to the island nation's deep military ties to the United States. Dias, 40, earned a Guinness World Record as the oldest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in a World Cup debut during Cape Verde's 0-0 draw with Spain on June 15, 2026. He was in tears after the match because visa issues kept his mother from attending. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), the only U.S. lawmaker of Cape Verdean descent, worked with Secretary of State Marco Rubio to waive the $15,000 fee, allowing her to watch Cape Verde's 2-2 draw with Uruguay on June 22. The article also highlights the legacy of Cape Verdeans in the U.S. military, including Joachim Pease, a Civil War sailor considered the first African-born Medal of Honor recipient.
Air Force TimesVisa battle for mother of Cape Verde footballer puts spotlight on nation and its military heritage
The article reports on a visa dispute involving Josimar 'Vozinha' Dias, the 40-year-old goalkeeper for Cape Verde's national soccer team, whose mother initially could not attend his World Cup debut against Spain due to a $15,000 visa fee. Dias broke down in tears after the match, drawing attention from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who intervened with Secretary of State Marco Rubio to waive the fees, allowing his mother to attend the subsequent match against Uruguay. The incident highlights Cape Verde's historical ties to the U.S., particularly its military heritage, including Joachim Pease, a Cape Verdean sailor considered by some as the first African-born recipient of the Medal of Honor for his service during the Civil War.
Army TimesVisa battle for mother of Cape Verde footballer puts spotlight on nation and its military heritage
The visa dispute involving the mother of Cape Verde goalkeeper Josimar 'Vozinha' Dias has drawn attention to the island nation's historical ties to the United States military. Vozinha, 40, became the oldest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in a World Cup debut during Cape Verde's 0-0 draw with Spain. However, he was distraught that his mother could not attend due to visa fees and red tape totaling $15,000. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the only Cape Verdean-American in Congress, worked with Secretary of State Marco Rubio to waive the fees, allowing her to attend the subsequent 2-2 draw with Uruguay. The article also highlights Cape Verde's military legacy, including Joachim Pease, a Civil War sailor considered the first African-born Medal of Honor recipient. Cape Verde's national team has impressed in the World Cup, earning draws against Spain and Uruguay.
Navy TimesVisa battle for mother of Cape Verde footballer puts spotlight on nation and its military heritage
The visa struggle for the mother of Cape Verde goalkeeper Josimar 'Vozinha' Dias has drawn attention to the island nation's deep ties to the U.S. military. Vozinha, 40, earned a Guinness World Record as the oldest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in a World Cup debut, holding Spain to a 0-0 draw. He later cried over visa and financial issues that prevented his mother from attending. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries intervened, leading to the waiver of $15,000 in fees, allowing her to see Cape Verde's historic 2-2 draw with Uruguay. The incident highlighted Cape Verde's legacy of U.S. military service, including Joachim Pease, an African-born Medal of Honor recipient from the Civil War.
Marine Corps TimesVisa battle for mother of Cape Verde footballer puts spotlight on nation and its military heritage
Josimar 'Vozinha' Dias, 40-year-old goalkeeper for Cape Verde, earned a Guinness World Record for a clean sheet in a 0-0 World Cup draw against Spain on June 15, 2026. He publicly wept after the match because visa issues and a $15,000 fee prevented his mother from attending. House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) intervened with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and all fees were waived, allowing her to attend the subsequent 2-2 draw with Uruguay. The incident highlighted Cape Verde's deep ties to the United States, including a legacy of military service dating back to the American Revolution and the Civil War Medal of Honor recipient Joachim Pease. Cape Verde next plays Saudi Arabia on June 26 with a chance to advance.
Air Force TimesVisa Battle for Mother of Cape Verde Goalkeeper Highlights Nation's Military Heritage
The mother of Cape Verde national team goalkeeper Josimar 'Vozinha' Dias was initially unable to attend his World Cup debut due to a $15,000 visa fee and bureaucratic issues. After Dias's emotional plea following a historic 0-0 draw against Spain, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries intervened with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, resulting in the fees being waived. Dias's mother subsequently attended the following match against Uruguay. The incident has drawn attention to Cape Verde's deep historical ties to the United States, especially its citizens' legacy of military service, including Civil War sailor Joachim Pease, who is considered the first African-born recipient of the Medal of Honor.
Air Force TimesVisa battle for mother of Cape Verde footballer puts spotlight on nation and its military heritage
Cape Verdean goalie Josimar 'Vozinha' Dias earned a Guinness World Record for oldest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in a World Cup debut, holding Spain to 0-0 draw on June 15, 2026. He cried after the match because visa issues and $15,000 fees prevented his mother from attending. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries intervened with Secretary of State Marco Rubio to waive fees, allowing his mother to be present for Cape Verde's subsequent 2-2 draw with Uruguay. The incident drew attention to Cape Verde's historical ties to the US, including Joachim Pease, a Civil War sailor considered the first African-born Medal of Honor recipient, and generations of Cape Verdean service in the US military dating back to the American Revolution.
Marine Corps TimesVisa battle for mother of Cape Verde footballer puts spotlight on nation and its military heritage
The article covers the visa struggle of Cape Verdean goalkeeper Josimar 'Vozinha' Dias, whose mother was initially unable to attend his historic World Cup debut due to visa fees and bureaucratic hurdles. Vozinha's acrobatic performance against Spain earned him a Guinness World Record as the oldest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in a World Cup debut. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries intervened, securing a waiver for the $15,000 visa fee, allowing Vozinha's mother to attend the subsequent match against Uruguay. The incident highlights Cape Verde's deep ties to the United States, including a long history of Cape Verdean Americans serving in the U.S. military, notably Joachim Pease, a Civil War sailor considered the first African-born Medal of Honor recipient.
Marine Corps TimesCape Verde Goalkeeper Vozinha's Mother Arrives at World Cup Match Thanks to Chinese Businessman
During the 2022 World Cup, Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha's mother arrived at the stadium for the group match against Uruguay after her son's standout performance against Spain brought attention to her inability to attend due to visa and financial constraints. Chinese businessman Lin Jie from Wenzhou contacted the family, funded travel necessities including luggage and clothing, and coordinated with multiple parties to bring her to the United States. The heartwarming reunion before the Uruguay game became a notable human-interest story during the tournament.
虎扑 - 足球Cape Verde Goalkeeper Vozinha Reunites with Mother After Visa Resolution at 2026 World Cup
Cape Verde's star goalkeeper, Vozinha, who delivered a heroic performance in a 0-0 draw against Spain at the 2026 World Cup, experienced an emotional reunion with his mother in Miami. She had been unable to attend the start of the tournament due to visa issues but was granted a helping hand by the U.S. administration. The reunion, captured by 433 and relayed by Prime Video, shows Vozinha embracing his mother in the stands, overcome with tears. The 40-year-old goalkeeper, previously little known, has seen his Instagram following skyrocket to 14.9 million, surpassing even Manuel Neuer. Cape Verde's next match is against Uruguay, where Vozinha will now have his mother's support from the stands.
Home Football - actualitésCape Verde's Hero Goalkeeper Vozinha Reunited with Mother After US Visa Issue Resolved
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, who kept a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw against Spain at the 2026 World Cup, has been reunited with his mother after a high-profile visa controversy. The 40-year-old had earlier said his mother could not attend due to the high cost of obtaining a US visa, which required a refundable deposit of around £11,000 for citizens of Cape Verde. Following public support and intervention by US House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who coordinated with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US State Department officials, all visa fees were waived and travel arrangements were made. Ana Candida Evora arrived in Miami on Saturday and will watch her son play against Uruguay. Vozinha has become a cult hero, gaining millions of social media followers after his performance.
Mirror - FootballCape Verde Hero's Mother Heads to World Cup After Bureaucratic Hurdles Cleared
Ana Cândida Évora, the mother of Cape Verde national team goalkeeper Vozinha, is finally traveling to the United States to watch her son play in the World Cup after overcoming bureaucratic and financial obstacles. Vozinha, 40, became a national hero after Cape Verde's sensational draw against European champions Spain. Initially unable to join him due to visa issues and a required bond of around 13,000 euros for citizens of certain countries, Ana Cândida's situation was resolved through intervention by North American authorities, the Cape Verdean government, and FIFA. A U.S. representative clarified that no visa application had been previously filed and that the bond is waived for athletes' relatives. Ana Cândida also lacked a valid passport, but the issue escalated to the Democratic minority leader in the House of Representatives who confirmed all fees were waived per policy. The emotional mother, who says she is too proud to even eat, is now en route to Miami where Cape Verde (the Blue Sharks) are scheduled to face Uruguay on Sunday.
RecordCape Verde Goalkeeper Vozinha's Mother Obtains US Visa for World Cup Match
The mother of Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha has obtained a visa to enter the United States and will attend her son's next World Cup match against Uruguay in Miami. Vozinha, who became a social media sensation with 13.8 million Instagram followers after his heroic performance in a 0-0 draw against Spain, used his newfound media exposure to expedite the visa process. His mother had initially been denied due to the high cost of procedures. Vozinha expressed deep emotion about her presence, noting that his father and brother are also in the US, and called it 'something special' to have family support during the tournament.
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