House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) announced Wednesday that the mother of Cape Verdean goalkeeper Vozinha, whose real name is Josimar Dias, has been granted a visa to watch her son play in Sunday's World Cup match against Uruguay. The development ends a tense visa saga that had overshadowed the team's tournament run.
Jeffries, who has Cape Verdean ancestry, said he personally appealed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio to expedite the process. In a statement, Jeffries noted that all fees were waived under existing policy and that travel arrangements are now underway for the reunion in Miami. The match is scheduled for 6 p.m. EDT at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
The goalkeeper's mother missed Cape Verde's opening 0-0 draw with Spain on Monday, where Vozinha earned player of the match honors with seven saves. After the game, an emotional Vozinha told reporters, including those from The Athletic, that visa issues and the associated costs prevented her attendance. “My mum could not be here either for a visa issue, and the money we had to pay for it,” he said. “We did not manage to do this in time.”
The State Department had initially said it had no record of a visa application from Vozinha's mother, but later clarified that all relatives of players are eligible for visa bond waivers. The Trump administration had previously waived the standard bond requirement—which can range from $5,000 to $15,000 for Cape Verdean nationals—for athletes, coaches, support staff, and immediate family members participating in the World Cup.
Jeffries thanked Rubio, State Department officials, the Cape Verdean government, and FIFA for their cooperation. The resolution comes amid broader controversies over World Cup visa policies, as seen in the political flashpoint created by Trump-era visa restrictions and the expulsion of the Iranian team after their opening draw.
Cape Verde, ranked sixth-lowest among the 48 teams in the tournament, faces Uruguay on Sunday before concluding Group H play against Saudi Arabia on June 26 in Houston. The visa resolution has drawn praise from diaspora communities and highlights the intersection of sports and diplomacy in an increasingly politicized World Cup environment.
