Cape Verde arrived at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as one of the tournament’s biggest underdogs. Making their debut on football’s grandest stage, few expected them to trouble Spain, the European champions and one of the favorites to win the competition. Yet the heroic performance from 40-year-old goalkeeper Josimar José Évora Dias, better known as Vozinha, of Cape Verde secured a stunning 0-0 draw that captured global attention.

The veteran made seven crucial saves and was named Player of the Match, but it was what happened after the final whistle that touched hearts around the world. Fighting back tears, Vozinha revealed that he was thinking about his late grandparents, who helped raise him, and his mother, who was unable to attend the match. As millions celebrated his heroics, the person he most wanted in the stands was watching from afar. So, who is the woman behind one of the World Cup’s most emotional stories?

Who is Ana Cndida Évora? Meet Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha’s mother

Ana Cndida Évora is a devoted mother, residing on the island of São Vicente in Cape Verde. She brought up Josimar Dias, the young man who would go on to be known as Vozinha, which in Portuguese translates into “Granny,” an honor that reflects respect toward the grandmother who brought up this young footballer.

Évora was never one for attention; she was just a woman who simply wished to see her son playing football. However, when Cape Verde qualified for its first-ever World Cup in 2026, she found herself caught up in the complexities of international immigration policies. The career of Vozinha has been a journey through various countries around the world: Cape Verde, Angola, Moldova, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovakia, and finally Chaves in Portugal’s second division.

Why was Ana Cndida Évora unable to attend Vozinha’s FIFA World Cup match?

The answer is heartbreakingly simple. It is the money. Under regulations introduced by the Trump administration, Cape Verde was among 50 countries whose citizens were required to post a refundable bond of up to $15,000 to enter the United States. The policy aimed to curb visa overstays, but for a family from one of the world’s smallest nations, it created an impossible barrier.

“She didn’t manage to be here because of the visa,” Vozinha told reporters after the Spain match, his voice cracking. “The money we have to pay for the visa… we didn’t manage on time, and I would like her to be here.”

Cape Verde has a population of around 530,000 people. Fifteen thousand dollars is a life-changing sum. Évora, like so many families from developing nations, simply couldn’t come up with that kind of cash.

“I would have loved to travel and watch the match, but it was not possible,” Évora said from her home in São Vicente.

What were the US Visa complications that delayed her travel?

The main obstacle was the cost of obtaining permission to travel to the United States. At the time, Cape Verde was among the countries subject to a U.S. visa bond policy that required applicants to provide a refundable bond of up to $15,000 in addition to standard visa-related expenses. For many families, including Vozinha’s, that amount was simply out of reach.

Although U.S. authorities later announced exemptions for certain World Cup-related travelers, the financial barriers had already disrupted Ana Cndida Évora’s plans to attend her son’s historic match against Spain. Reports also indicated that she did not have a valid passport at the time and was in the process of obtaining the necessary travel documents. Even if the bond had been waived, she couldn’t have traveled without proper documentation.

How did officials help Ana Cndida Évora reach the World Cup after the visa issues?

Vozinha’s post-match tears went viral. His Instagram following exploded from around 50,000 to nearly 10 million in a matter of days. People around the world saw a man who had just achieved the impossible, and his first thought wasn’t about glory but about his mother.

The reaction was swift. US House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries stepped up. “No mother should miss the chance to see her child make history,” he posted on X. “I spoke with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and asked the State Department to do everything in its power to ensure that his mother can attend Cape Verde’s next match.”

Then came the announcement, “It is a privilege to announce that Vozinha’s mom will be able to secure a visa in time to attend the game this Sunday against Uruguay. All fees have been waived consistent with official policy. Travel arrangements are now being made for mother and son to reunite in Miami.”

The US State Department confirmed that it was “actively reaching out” to help Evora with visa services. The government of Cape Verde and FIFA also pitched in. On June 19, Ana Cndida Évora arrived at Miami International Airport wearing a pink shirt, smiling ear to ear. “I want to wish my son good luck and a good match,” she told reporters.

Will Vozinha’s mother attend Vozinha’s next match against Uruguay?

Yes. And it’s going to be a moment for the ages. Cape Verde faces Uruguay on June 21 at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. Ana Cndida Évora will be in the stands. “I’m taking a special energy to the Cape Verdeans there,” she said in an exclusive interview with the BBC. “We’re going to fight and shine on that pitch.”

Looking ahead, Cape Verde’s World Cup journey doesn’t end with Uruguay. They will face Saudi Arabia on June 27 in their final Group H match. With a point already in the bag against Spain, the Blue Sharks have a real shot at advancing to the knockout rounds, a feat that would be nothing short of miraculous for a nation of just over half a million people. Vozinha, at 40, is playing like a man possessed. And now, with his mother watching from the stands, you can bet he will have an extra spring in his step.