Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, 40, became an overnight sensation at the 2026 World Cup, making seven saves as the islanders held Spain in their tournament debut. But in the glow of the result he revealed a private heartache: his mother had not been able to come.
Ana Candida Evora, 59, a house cleaner, could not afford the bond required for a visa to travel to the United States. As the story spread, the obstacles fell away. U.S. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said the barriers preventing her travel had been removed, with fees waived and arrangements made.
Evora — making her first international journey — arrived in the U.S. to watch Cape Verde’s next match against Uruguay in Miami, and thanked everyone who helped make the trip possible. For a debutant nation already punching above its weight, it was the kind of moment a World Cup is made for.
Sources: CNN · ESPN · Goal.com
