Cape Verde’s remarkable FIFA World Cup debut continued on Sunday (21 June) as the tournament newcomers held Uruguay to a 2-2 draw. Goalkeeper Vozinha was once again at the centre of the story, this time with his mother watching from the stands.
The 40-year-old shot-stopper became one of the breakout stars of the tournament after producing a seven-save clean sheet against Spain in Cape Verde’s historic opening 0-0 draw, the country’s first-ever World Cup match.
That result marked one of the biggest early shocks of the expanded 2026 tournament and underlined the growing competitiveness of debutant nations.
After the Spain match, Vozinha revealed his joy was tempered by the absence of his mother, Evora, who had been unable to secure a visa to attend the tournament in the United States.
Her absence quickly gained attention online, sparking a social media fundraising campaign that helped cover her travel expenses. By Sunday, Evora was in the stands for Cape Verde’s clash with Uruguay, with broadcasters showing her several times during the match.
The emotional reunion added another layer to what has become one of the most compelling personal stories of the tournament.
Against two-time world champions Uruguay, Cape Verde again showed resilience.
Cape Verde fell behind after Uruguay responded to Kevin Pina’s historic first World Cup goal (the nation’s first at the finals) but fought back in the second half through Hélio Varela to earn another draw.
While Vozinha endured a difficult first half, conceding twice, he recovered strongly after the break to help preserve the result.
With two draws from two matches (against Spain and Uruguay) Cape Verde remain unbeaten and firmly in contention for a place in the knockout rounds.
Vozinha’s performances have made him one of the oldest and most unexpected stars of the World Cup, earning global attention far beyond Cape Verde, an island nation of just over half a million people.
His heroics have also fed into a wider narrative at the 2026 World Cup, where smaller nations such as Cape Verde and Curaçao have already produced historic results against established football powers.
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