The U.S. State Department is working to help Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha bring his mother to the United States after she missed his country’s shock 0-0 draw with Spain because she could not afford a visa bond, a State Department official said Tuesday.
Vozinha told reporters his mother “didn’t manage to be here because of the visa the money we have to pay for the visa,” though the State Department said it has no record of an application and noted that visa bond requirements are waived for immediate relatives of World Cup players. A source familiar with the situation added Vozinha’s mother is obtaining a passport, which may explain the delay. The Department said it is reaching out to Vozinha’s family to provide visa assistance.
Vozinha, 40, who plays in Portugal’s second division, rose to global prominence after making seven key saves to deny Spain in Cape Verde’s first-ever World Cup match. The draw was celebrated across the island nation of roughly 530,000 people and boosted the goalkeeper’s international profile overnight.
