On Father’s Day, Cape Verde goalkeeper Josimar José Évora Dias, known as Vozinha, shared the pitch with his mother, Ana Candida Evora, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, as the island nation secured a 2-2 draw against Uruguay in the 2023 FIFA World Cup. The match marked a significant moment not only for the team but also for Evora, who had previously been unable to attend Cape Verde’s opening draw against Spain due to visa challenges.

Evora’s arrival in Miami on Friday followed concerted efforts involving the U.S. State Department, FIFA, U.S. lawmakers, and Cape Verde’s soccer federation, who collaborated to resolve visa and financial obstacles. After more than 24 hours of travel, she was warmly welcomed upon arrival and hosted by FIFA at its tournament headquarters ahead of the match. On Sunday, she watched the game from a suite, proudly waving a Cape Verde flag emblazoned with her son’s name and jersey number.

Cape Verde’s performance this tournament has captured global attention, with the team holding two draws in their first two matches—an unexpected achievement for one of football’s smallest nations. Vozinha, 40, who did not record a save against Uruguay, was praised for his positioning and ability to limit scoring chances in the closing minutes, forcing Uruguayan shooters to miss their marks. The goalkeeper’s steady presence has become a symbol of the team’s resilience.

Prior to the Uruguay match, Vozinha’s Instagram following surged from approximately 50,000 to 15 million, fueled by his standout performance against Spain, a pre-tournament favorite, in a goalless draw. His emotional post-match comments, in which he expressed regret that his late grandparents could not witness his World Cup debut and lamented his mother’s absence due to visa issues, touched audiences worldwide and galvanized efforts to bring Evora to the United States.

Cape Verde, nicknamed the Tubarões Azuis—Portuguese for Blue Sharks—holds a critical opportunity to advance to the knockout stage with a group-stage finale against Saudi Arabia scheduled for Friday in Houston. Should they succeed, the team could return to Miami Gardens for a round-of-32 match, potentially facing defending champions Argentina led by Lionel Messi.

“We have a lot of people working very hard,” Vozinha said, highlighting the collective effort behind the team’s achievements. Defender Pico Lopes added, “When you dream of something, something can happen,” underscoring the island nation’s remarkable World Cup journey thus far.