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The latest installment in the media’s attempt to portray President Trump as ruining the ongoing World Cup took place on Wednesday’s Amanpour and Company on PBS. During one segment, host Christiane Amanpour and author Simon Kuper tried to suggest that Trump is the reason why Cape Verde goalkeeper Josimar “Vozinha” Dias’s mother has not been able to acquire a visa, but there are compelling reasons to believe that is not true. Before that, Amanpour listed some other on-field stories she thought were worthy of mentioning, “What matches have stood out for you? You just mentioned the three who've just really done unbelievably. What about lesser-knowns? Like, I think Bosnia held their opponents to a draw. Iran held their opponents to a draw. I mean, they're not lesser known, but they're less high-ranked. And Cape Verde, tell me about that goalie. It's an incredible story.” CNN/PBS's Christiane Amanpour and author Simon Kuper do some World Cup-immigration conspiracy theorizing. Amanpour notes that the State Department is trying to get Cape Verde's goalkeeper a visa, "Was she not allowed before?" Kuper says "I think Cape Verde is one of those… pic.twitter.com/2ngABj0kTw — Alex Christy (@alexchristy17) June 18, 2026 Amanpour probably listed Iran probably to paint the narrative that Team Iran is being harassed and needlessly persecuted by Trump, but Iran was a heavy favorite to beat New Zealand, so a tie has to be considered a failure. As for the Cape Verde goalie, Kuper began by highlighting the significance of his performance, “Yeah, Vozinha, he plays in the second division in Portugal. He's 40-years old, and Spain were attacking the whole game, as you’d expect from the team that were the bookmakers' favorites to win the World Cup. And they couldn't even beat Cape Verde, playing its first World Cup with a team drawn heavily from its diaspora, a lot of players from Rotterdam.” He then added, “It's the first real Cinderella moment we've had so far. I think the whole world loved it. And the U.S. State Department is now even trying to bring the goalkeeper's mother into the U.S. so she can follow the tournament there.” Amanpour then ruined the feel-good story with some anti-Trump politics, “Well, wouldn't that be nice? And was she not allowed before?” Kuper simply retorted, “I think Cape Verde is one of those countries that it's very difficult to get visas for Donald Trump's USA. And so, there are whole countries that have not really been able to get any fans.” In an effort to crackdown on high rates of visa overstay, the Trump administration has required visitors from certain countries to put up a refundable bond as part of their application process. Vozinha has said his mother could not afford the $15,000 payment, but players’ families are exempt from the bond. Furthermore, according to AP sports writer Jim Vertuno, “A person familiar with the situation said that the State Department believes that Vozinha’s mother did not apply for a visa because she did not hold a valid Cape Verde passport, but that she is now in the process of getting one.” It is unfortunate that Vozinha’s mother could not be there to see him play against Spain, but that does not mean there was some grand anti-Cape Verde or anti-Africa conspiracy afoot. Here is a transcript for the June 17 show: PBS Amanpour and Company 6/17/2026 CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: Yeah, and what matches have stood out for you? You just mentioned the three who've just really done unbelievably. What about lesser-knowns? Like I think Bosnia held their opponents to a draw. Iran held their opponents to a draw. I mean, they're not lesser known, but they're less high-ranked. And Cape Verde, tell me about that goalie. It's an incredible story. SIMON KUPER: Yeah, Vozinha, he plays in the second division in Portugal. He's 40-years old, and Spain were attacking the whole game, as you’d expect from the team that were the bookmakers' favorites to win the World Cup. And they couldn't even beat Cape Verde, playing its first World Cup with a team drawn heavily from its diaspora, a lot of players from Rotterdam. And it's the first real Cinderella moment we've had so far. I think the whole world loved it. And the U.S. State Department is now even trying to bring the goalkeeper's mother into the U.S. so she can follow the tournament there. AMANPOUR: Well, wouldn't that be nice? And was she not allowed before? KUPER: I think Cape Verde is one of those countries that it's very difficult to get visas for Donald Trump's USA. And so, there are whole countries that have not really been able to get any fans.