World Cup: Uruguay vs. Cape Verde, a match where goalkeeper Vozinha will have his mom in the stands

On Father's Day, June 21, a World Cup match between Uruguay and Cape Verde will feature a heartwarming subplot: the presence of Ana Cándida Évora, the mother of Cape Verde's goalkeeper, Vozinha. She became a focal point after her son's stellar performance in Cape Verde's memorable 0-0 debut draw against Spain, where the 40-year-old goalkeeper was a formidable wall against Spanish attacks.

Following the match against Spain, Vozinha expressed his emotions, stating, "I cried because my mother couldn't be here due to the visa, because of the money we had to pay. I would have liked her to be here, but I am still happy." He was referring to the exorbitant $15,000 visa fee required for Cape Verdeans to enter the United States for the World Cup.

The attention surrounding Vozinha's plea extended beyond the field, significantly boosting his social media presence from just over 50,000 Instagram followers to nearly 2 million during the Spain game. His mention of his mother reached political circles, catching the attention of Hakeem Jeffries, the leader of the Democratic caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives. Jeffries, who has Cape Verdean heritage, initiated efforts and contacted Secretary of State Marco Rubio to facilitate the approval of a visa for Vozinha's mother, bypassing the substantial fee imposed on countries considered less favorably by U.S. authorities.

The diplomatic efforts were successful, and Ana Cándida Évora was able to travel from the small African archipelago to the United States. She arrived in time for Cape Verde's second match, where they will face Uruguay in Miami at 7 p.m. Argentina time. Cape Verde's coach, Bubista, who once snuck into stadiums to watch the 1982 World Cup as a child, aims to organize a strong defense in front of Vozinha, who hopes to keep another clean sheet.

Meanwhile, Uruguay, nicknamed the "Blue Sharks," enters the match with the imperative to win. Advancing from their group is crucial for their prospects in the latter stages of the tournament. After failing to progress beyond the group stage in Qatar 2022, Uruguay could potentially face Argentina in the round of 16 if they finish second in their group. Coach Marcelo Bielsa is expected to make three changes to the lineup following their 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia, as Uruguay seeks a victory to avoid complications in Group H.

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I cried because my mother couldn't be here due to the visa, because of the money we had to pay. I would have liked her to be here, but I am still happy.