Cape Verde’s Vozinha stuns Spain but visa woes kept his family away

World Cup Visa Issues Leave Fans From Iraq, Cape Verde, and Other Nations Shut Out

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, now underway across the United States, has been marred by mounting visa complications that have prevented fans, officials, and family members from multiple nations from attending the tournament. The issue reached an emotional peak on Monday when Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha revealed that his mother and grandparents were unable to witness his historic World Cup debut against Spain due to visa problems and prohibitive costs.

A Goalkeeper’s Heartbreak

Vozinha, whose full name is Josimar Dias, delivered a performance for the ages on Monday, making seven saves to hold Spain to a stunning 0-0 draw in Cape Verde’s first-ever World Cup match. At 40 years old, he became the oldest player to feature in a nation’s inaugural World Cup game. But the moment was bittersweet. In a post-match interview, Vozinha said U.S. visa problems had kept his mother from making the trip, adding that his family simply could not afford the fees. His grandparents were also barred from attending.foxsports

The story quickly went viral, turning Vozinha into a symbol of the broader visa crisis affecting the tournament.

Widespread Barriers

According to BBC analysis of U.S. State Department data, visa rejection rates for citizens of 11 of the 48 qualifying nations exceed 40 percent. Fans requiring visas face a $185 application fee and must attend an in-person interview demonstrating intent to leave the country afterward. Some nations, including those in West Africa, have reportedly been asked for deposits as high as $15,000.bbc

Iraq has faced acute visa difficulties, with fans unable to secure travel authorization. Iran’s fan ticket allocation was reportedly revoked just one week before its opening match. Fans from Scotland have had their travel authorization suddenly revoked, and dozens of Moroccan supporters have been denied visas despite having purchased tickets. A Somali match referee was also denied entry.independent

President Trump said U.S. officials are working to ensure the “right people” come into the country for the tournament.nypost

‘Chill, Relax’

FIFA president Gianni Infantino drew sharp criticism for his response to the crisis. Speaking to media on June 10, Infantino told fans to “chill, relax” and trust FIFA to handle the situation. The BBC’s coverage called it a missed opportunity for Infantino to advocate for supporters.independent

On Sunday, comedian John Oliver mocked Infantino’s remarks on his HBO show, saying, “When Trump is using the World Cup as an excuse to punish specific groups of people, telling everyone to ‘chill’ won’t cut it”.yahoo

Infantino maintained that FIFA’s role is to function as a sports organization and not to intervene in U.S. entry approvals.aljazeera