Josimar José Évora Dias, known as Vozinha, made seven saves for Cape Verde against Spain on June 15, securing a historic 0-0 draw in his nation’s first World Cup appearance. The 40-year-old’s debut earned him Player of the Match and massive global attention. His mother watched from home, unable to afford the US visa bond reportedly up to $15,000 for Cape Verde nationals.
Following the match, public pressure mounted. Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries requested expedited assistance from Secretary of State Marco Rubio ahead of Cape Verde’s next match on June 21. The State Department is now facilitating the visa process for Vozinha’s mother.
The incident exposes the friction between the 2026 tournament’s host nation requirements and fans from lower-income countries. The bond system aims to ensure visitors depart, but in practice blocks families who cannot meet the financial threshold. While this specific case saw rapid intervention, systemic barriers for thousands of other families remain unaddressed.
Vozinha plays for GD Chaves in Portugal’s second division. His Instagram following surged from 50,000 to over 5.8 million in one day. Cape Verde’s next match offers another chance for the veteran and his island nation to continue their remarkable run on the global stage.