The US State Department is trying to help get Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha’s mother to the United States to watch her son play in the World Cup, a State Department official mentioned Tuesday.
Vozinha mentioned after Cape Verde’s shocking draw with Spain on Monday that his mother was not ready to attend the match as a result of she couldn’t afford the bond fee for a visa.
“She didn’t manage to be here because of the visa … the money we have to pay for the visa,” he informed reporters after the match. “We didn’t manage on time, and I would like her to be here.”
Cape Verde is one among 50 nations whose residents are required by the Trump administration to pay a bond of up to $15,000, due to allegations of excessive charges of overstaying their visas.
When requested about Vozinha’s feedback, the official mentioned there was no report of a visa request for the participant’s mother. The official additionally famous that the bond is waived for “all relatives of players.”
“The US Department of State has no record of this individual applying for a visa. All relatives of players are eligible for visa bond waivers, and the Department is actively reaching out to this player’s family to assist with visa services,” the official mentioned.
A supply accustomed to the matter mentioned their understanding is that Vozinha’s mother doesn’t at present have an energetic passport and is in the means of acquiring one.
The State Department notes on its website that “the bond requirement will be waived for athletes and team members – including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives – who are nationals of countries that are competing in the FIFA World Cup 2026 and demonstrate that they meet all requirements for the visa.”
It’s a whirlwind rise for Vozinha, a 40-year-old who performs in the Portuguese second division. He made seven saves in opposition to Spain, stifling the event favorites in his nation’s first World Cup match.
Many anticipated Vozinha and Cape Verde to be blown away by the European champions, in the vein of Germany beating event debutants Curaçao 7-1 on Sunday. Instead, Vozinha and his defenders pissed off the gifted Spanish assault for 90 minutes and held on for the most vital end result of their nation’s soccer historical past.
The nation of round 530,000 individuals celebrated and far of the world danced together with them, main to a fast rise in fame for the beforehand unheralded keeper.
With some encouragement from a Brazilian broadcaster, Vozinha’s Instagram has grown from round 50,000 followers to greater than 9.7 million as of Tuesday afternoon.
Cape Verde subsequent takes the discipline at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday in opposition to Uruguay in Miami.