Jeffries asks – House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to help Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha’s mother attend his next World Cup match against Uruguay in Miami Gardens on June 21, after visa complications kept her away from Cape Verde’s debu
When Cape Verde’s goalkeeper Vozinha walked into post-match interviews on Monday, his eyes were still red from crying—his player of the match trophy in hand, his voice carrying the weight of a family he couldn’t reach in time.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries made sure that family was heard in Washington, too. On Tuesday, Jeffries asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to help Vozinha’s mother get to the next World Cup match for Cape Verde, against Uruguay in Miami Gardens, Florida, on June 21 at 6:00 p.m. ET.
“Jeffries wrote on X Tuesday, “The Cabo Verde national football team shocked Spain… His Mom was unable to be there because of visa complications. No mother should miss the chance to see her child make history.”
Cape Verde’s World Cup debut delivered the kind of moment that travels fast: the Blue Sharks held Spain to a 0-0 draw with a defensive masterclass. The game ended scoreless, and after the final whistle, the 40-year-old goalkeeper openly wept.
“I cry because I (grew) up with my grandparents, and unfortunately, they are not here,” Vozinha said. “They died a few years before, and they (were) everything, everything for me.”
“And also because (of) my mom,” he continued. “She didn’t manage to be here because … of the money we have to pay for the visa. We didn’t manage on time. I would like (for her) to be here, but I’m very happy also, and I’m very happy for all the Cabo Verdeans.”
The visa issue isn’t just personal—it’s tied to how the U.S. handles travel for athletes and their families on fast-moving timelines. A State Department official told CNN the department is trying to help. “The US Department of State has no record of this individual applying for a visa. All relatives of players are eligible for visa bond waivers. and the Department is actively reaching out to this player’s family to assist with visa services. ” the official said.
Jeffries’ request lands against the backdrop of a World Cup run that is already turning Vozinha into a global figure. After the Spain match, Vozinha gained more than 2 million followers on Instagram immediately, and as of this publishing he is up to more than 9 million.
A GoFundMe has also reportedly been established to help Vozinha’s mother reach the World Cup.
On the field, the emotion had a clear source: Vozinha made seven saves against Spain and finished with the player of the match honor. Cape Verde coach Bubista described what he saw when Vozinha came through the post-match media scrum.
“He was overwhelmed with emotion,” Bubista said. “He’s quite an experienced player and struggled throughout all these years to be here on this world stage. It was also a cry of resilience.”
Now the story is shifting from the pitch to a visa timeline—one that Jeffries is trying to accelerate by pushing Rubio to act before the next match on June 21 in Miami Gardens.
Vozinha Cape Verde World Cup Hakeem Jeffries Marco Rubio visa Miami Gardens Uruguay Spain Instagram followers GoFundMe State Department