Democrat Urges US Visa For Cape Verde Goalkeeper Vozinha's Mother: 'No Mother Should...'

Last Updated:June 17, 2026, 18:39 IST

Hakeem Jeffries requests Secretary of State Marco Rubio to grant a visa so Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha's mother can watch him make history in the US.

Minority leader of the US House of Representatives, Hakeem Jeffries, has said he has asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to grant a visa to Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha’s mother so she can travel to the United States to see her son ‘make history’.

Ana Candida Evora was unable to travel to the United States to watch her son play in Cape Verde’s goalless draw against Spain after the cost of a visa bond proved too expensive.

In January, Cape Verde was included among multiple nations whose citizens were required to post bonds of up to $15,000 (over Rs 14 lakh) to enter the United States, under regulations introduced during the administration of Donald Trump, aimed at reducing visa overstays.

“The Cabo Verde national football team shocked Spain on the strength of a historic performance by goalkeeper Vozinha," Jeffries tweeted on Tuesday night.

Last month, Washington said it would waive the requirement for FIFA World Cup ticket holders to ease ‘legitimate travel’ for the tournament. By then, however, the high costs had already led Evora to abandon plans of making the 6,400km (3,900-mile) trip to Atlanta.

“I would have loved to travel and watch the match, but it wasn’t possible," Evora said.

A State Department official said that there was no record of Evora having applied for a visa, but noted that relatives of footballers are eligible for visa bond waivers. The official added that Washington was ‘reaching out to this player’s family to assist with visa services’.

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