Cape Verde Captain Ryan Mendes Faces Serious Allegation Ahead of FIFA World Cup Knockout Clash
New Zealand Police Investigating Alleged Sexual Assault Complaint Before Argentina Match
June 29, 2026
Cape Verde’s remarkable FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign has been overshadowed by a serious off-field controversy ahead of its Round of 32 clash against Argentina. Team captain and star forward Ryan Mendes is under police investigation in New Zealand following an allegation of sexual assault made by a woman who reportedly worked with the team during a FIFA tournament earlier this year.
Complaint Linked to FIFA Series Tournament in New Zealand
According to reports from the New Zealand Herald, the complainant was employed as part of FIFA’s team support staff. Brazilian media outlet Globo reported that the woman is a Brazilian national who worked as a translator for the Cape Verde national team during the FIFA Series tournament held in New Zealand in March 2026.
Alleged Incident Took Place in Hotel Room
The complaint alleges that Ryan Mendes entered the woman’s hotel room and sexually assaulted her without consent. Following the alleged incident, the woman reportedly underwent a medical examination and informed three Cape Verde team officials about what had occurred.
New Zealand Police are currently investigating the allegations. At this stage, no charges or convictions have been announced publicly, and the investigation remains ongoing.
FIFA Monitoring the Situation
In a statement provided to USA Today, FIFA said it treats all allegations of misconduct with the utmost seriousness and confirmed that it is in contact with New Zealand authorities regarding the investigation.
However, FIFA declined to comment further, citing the ongoing nature of the inquiry.
As of now, the Cape Verde Football Federation has not issued an official public statement regarding the allegations against its captain.
Cape Verde’s Historic World Cup Run Continues
Despite the controversy, Cape Verde has impressed in its FIFA World Cup 2026 debut, securing a place in the knockout stage after finishing second in its group.
The African nation remained unbeaten during the group stage with three draws:
- Spain 0–0 Cape Verde
- Uruguay 2–2 Cape Verde
- Saudi Arabia 0–0 Cape Verde
The team will now prepare to face defending champions Argentina in the Round of 32 while the investigation involving Mendes continues.
The allegations against Ryan Mendes are currently under investigation. No court has found him guilty of any offense, and he is presumed innocent unless proven otherwise.
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