Ana Candida Evora was unable to journey to look at her son star in a goalless draw with Spain as a result of the price of a US visa.
Printed On 17 Jun 2026
The minority chief of the USA Home of Representatives has urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to permit the mom of Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha to enter the nation and watch her son play on the World Cup.
Ana Candida Evora was unable to journey to look at her son star in a goalless draw with Spain as a result of the price of a bond cost for a visa to enter the US.
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In January, Cape Verde was included on an inventory of dozens of nations whose residents wanted to publish bonds of as much as $15,000 to enter the US, below rules launched by Donald Trump’s administration and supposed to curb visa overstays.
Final month, Washington introduced it was dropping the requirement for World Cup ticket holders, saying it wished to facilitate “professional journey for the upcoming World Cup event”. By that time, nevertheless, the excessive prices had already triggered Evora to rule out even making an attempt to make the 6,400km (3,900-mile) journey to Atlanta.
“I might have beloved to journey and watch the match, however it was not attainable,” she stated.
Her incapacity to go to the US to look at her son’s World Cup heroics has provoked a powerful response.
“No mom ought to miss the prospect to see her little one make historical past,” Home of Representatives Democratic chief Hakeem Jeffries stated on social media.
“I’ve requested Secretary of State Marco Rubio to do all the pieces in his energy to make sure that she will be able to attend [the] subsequent match on Sunday.”
A State Division official stated there was no document of Evora making use of for a visa however that gamers’ kinfolk had been eligible for visa bond waivers. The official stated Washington was “actively reaching out to this participant’s household to help with visa companies”.
‘I would love her to be right here’
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha surprised the world by shutting out Spain’s formidable attacking lineup within the island nation’s World Cup debut on Monday, with the participant, whose actual identify is Josimar Dias, breaking down in tears at full-time.
His feelings had been as a result of his mom had not been capable of journey to see his heroics in particular person, he later instructed reporters, citing a visa concern.
“Additionally, my mum, she didn’t handle to be right here due to the visa. The cash for the visa, we didn’t handle on time, and I would love her to be right here,” he stated.
The early levels of the event have been affected by immigration points, with Somali referee Omar Artan banned from getting into the US to officiate at World Cup matches.
A variety of Iran’s backroom employees had been additionally denied US visas, with strict travel requirements positioned on the squad, who’ve moved their base to Mexico.
For smaller nations on the World Cup, the excessive prices of journey, lodging and tickets are additionally an issue for individuals seeking to attend the event, stated Mario Semedo, president of the Cape Verde nationwide soccer federation.
“It isn’t simple for a Cape Verdean resident to journey to a World Cup. Airfare, lodging and match tickets all contain vital prices,” he instructed the Reuters information company.
“There are actually methods to handle immigration considerations whereas additionally creating situations that permit supporters to journey. If a participant’s member of the family, for instance, needs to attend the event, each effort ought to be made to facilitate that.”
