The 2026 FIFA World Cup has already delivered one of its most heartwarming stories, as goalkeeper Vozinha – whose extraordinary performance secured a historic goalless draw for Cape Verde against defending giants Spain – is set to be reunited with his mother ahead of the nation’s second group stage match against Uruguay this Sunday. The 40-year-old shot-stopper, who earned player-of-the-match honors after making seven game-changing saves to block Spain’s relentless attacks, captured global attention when he opened up about his mother’s absence from the tournament following the match on Monday. After decades of chasing his World Cup dream, Vozinha shared that his mother could not travel to the United States to watch him play because the high cost of the required visa put the trip out of their reach.
Vozinha, who became the oldest player ever to debut in a nation’s first ever World Cup match at 40 years and 12 days old, spoke emotionally about the loss of his grandparents, who raised him and died before they could see him reach football’s biggest stage. “I cried because I grew up with my grandparents,” he told reporters after the Spain draw. “Unfortunately, they were not here. They died a few years before. They were everything to me, everything in my life. And also because of my mum. She didn’t manage to be here because of the visa. Because of the money you have to pay for the visa, we didn’t manage it in time. I would like her to be here.”
That public comment sparked swift action from US political leaders, who moved quickly to resolve the barrier. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Brooklyn-based Congressman, announced on social media platform X that the visa fees have been fully waived, and logistics are already underway to bring Vozinha’s mother to Miami for the upcoming Uruguay match. “No mother should miss the chance to see her child make history,” Jeffries said. He confirmed that he had coordinated with Secretary of State Marco Rubio to urge the State Department to use its authority to clear the way for Vozinha’s mother’s travel. “It is a privilege to announce that Vozinha’s mom will be able to secure a visa in time to attend the game this Sunday against Uruguay. All fees have been waived consistent with official policy. Travel arrangements are now being made for mother and son to reunite in Miami. I thank Secretary Rubio, US State Department officials, the government of Cape Verde and Fifa for working together to make this possible,” Jeffries added.
A senior State Department official later confirmed the process is moving forward, saying, “We can confirm our visa team in Praia is in close touch with her and providing the needed services.” The high visa cost stems from a US policy requiring citizens of five World Cup participating nations to pay a refundable £11,000 visa deposit, though match ticket holders were granted an exemption to the rule back in May.
Vozinha’s road to the World Cup has been far from conventional. He only turned professional at the relatively late age of 25 in 2012, and at one point considered stepping away from the Cape Verde national team before pushing on to pursue his lifelong dream of reaching the World Cup. Across his decades-long career, he has played club football across Europe and Africa, with stints in Slovakia, Angola, Moldova, and Cyprus, before landing his current role with Chaves in Portugal’s second-tier league. He has earned 91 caps for Cape Verde, and his heroics against Spain have turned him into a global cult hero, attracting millions of new followers on social media in the days since the historic draw.
Cape Verde is competing in its first ever World Cup, and sits in Group H alongside Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia. Following Sunday’s clash with Uruguay, the African side will round out group play against Saudi Arabia on June 27.