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FIFA WC: Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes under investigation for rape allegation Cape Verde's captain, Ryan Mendes, is under investigation by New Zealand Police following an alleged rape by a Brazilian interpreter during the FIFA Series in March 2026. The woman claims Mendes entered her hotel room without permission and assaulted her. Police are actively investigating, reviewing CCTV and forensic evidence. FIFA has stated it takes such allegations seriously and is cooperating with authorities.

Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes accused of rape by team translator WORLD CUP Cabo Verde Men's National Soccer Team Add Topic Cape Verde captain being investigated for rape in New Zealand | Report Nancy Armour USA TODAY Updated June 28, 2026, 8:22 p.m. ET Hear this story The captain of Cape Verde , which made history by qualifying for the knockout rounds in its first-ever World Cup, is under investigation for rape in New Zealand, according to Brazil's Globo . Ryan Mendes , who played all three games for the Blue Sharks, is accused of sexually assaulting a woman who worked for the team as a translator during the FIFA Series played in New Zealand in March. A decision on whether Mendes will be charged will not be made until the investigation, including forensic analysis, is complete, according to the report, which cites the New Zealand police, legal representation for the translator and multiple conversations with her and the Cape Verde soccer federation. In a statement to USA TODAY, FIFA said it takes "any allegation of misconduct" seriously and was in contact with New Zealand authorities. "Please understand we cannot comment further at this stage," the statement said. The Cape Verde …

Cape Verde’s soccer team captain accused of raping translator before star World Cup run Ryan Mendes, 36, was accused of sexually assaulting a Brazilian woman hired to be the team's translator during a trip to New Zealand to play a game in March, reported Brazil's Globo news outlet.

[Globo] Cape Verde’s Captain Ryan Mendes at the World Cup Is Under Investigation for the Rape of a Brazilian Woman in New Zealand. A complaint filed with the police against him includes photos of bruises and a medical report recording injuries on the Brazilian woman.

Cape Verde Captain Ryan Mendes Investigated Over Sexual Assault ... Cape Verde captain, Ryan Mendes is under police investigation in New Zealand over an alleged sexual assault involving a translator who worked with the national team, according to Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte. The alleged incident is said to have occurred on March 27, 2026, at a hotel in Auckland during Cape Verde’s participation in the FIFA Friendly Series. The complainant, a Brazilian translator hired by the Cape Verde Football Federation, accused Mendes of entering her hotel room and sexually assaulting her. According to the report, medical and forensic examinations documented multiple injuries, while investigators have also obtained hotel security footage as part of the probe. The complainant and her husband reportedly asked the Cape Verde Football Federation and FIFA to leave Mendes out of the World Cup squad while the investigation was ongoing, but no action was taken. New Zealand Police have confirmed an active investigation but have not publicly identified Mendes due to local privacy laws. No criminal charges have been filed, with authorities awaiting final forensic results. The investigation comes as Cap…

World Cup's fairytale team Cape Verde hit by rape accusations against ... ByMICHAEL PAVITT, SPORTS REPORTER Published:09:02 EDT, 28 June 2026|Updated:09:03 EDT, 28 June 2026 Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes is reportedly under investigation after he was accused of raping a team translator earlier this year. Mendes is currently leading the Cape Verde team at the World Cup, where the African nation sprung a surprise by qualifying for the knock-out stages of the competition. The 36-year-old winger, who has played in each of their group matches, is said to be under investigation by police in New Zealand. Brazilian outletGloboreported that Mendes was accused of sexually assaulting a Brazilian woman when Cape Verde were in Auckland back in March. The alleged incident occurred on March 27, the same date Cape Verde were beaten 4-2 by Chile. Cape Verde then played New Zealand three days later, with the match ending in a draw before Cape Verde won on penalties. Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes is reportedly under investigation over an alleged rape following a friendly match in New Zealand back in March The alleged victim reportedly told police that she had been contracted by the New Ze…

What are the allegations against Ryan Mendes? Cape Verde captain faces ... Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes is at the center of a serious police investigation during the FIFA World Cup, according to reports from Brazilian outlet Globo. The 36-year-old winger, who has played in all three of Cape Verde’s matches at the tournament, has been accused by a translator of an incident that allegedly took place during the team’s trip to New Zealand in March. New Zealand Police have confirmed that an investigation is ongoing, while FIFA says it is in contact with authorities. The allegation was first reported by Globo, which said a Brazilian woman working as a translator for the Cape Verde team during their New Zealand tour filed a complaint with police after an incident in Auckland on March 27. According to the report, the woman told investigators that Ryan Mendes entered her hotel room and attacked her before she was able to resist. Globo also reported that medical documents recorded injuries on several parts of her body. The outlet said the findings were later submitted toNew ZealandPolice, and the woman underwent a forensic examination as part of the investigation. New Zealand Police c…

Cape Verde World Cup Fairytale Rocked by Rape Allegation Against Captain World Cup A serious accusation has cast a shadow over Cape Verde's celebrated World Cup run, as team captain Ryan Mendes is reportedly under investigation in New Zealand for rape. The complaint was filed by a Brazilian woman who was hired as the team's interpreter in Auckland this past March. The 36-year-old forward, a key figure in his team's surprising success, has not been formally charged. However, the investigation threatens to tarnish the "fairytale" narrative of the African team, which has captured global attention, just days before their crucial Round of 32 match against Argentina. As reported byLa Gazzetta dello Sport, the incident allegedly occurred on March 27 while Cape Verde was in Auckland for the FIFA Series tournament. The woman, a Brazilian national living in New Zealand, was employed by the local federation to serve as an interpreter and operational liaison for the Cape Verdean delegation, staying at the same hotel as the team. According to her statement, she was invited to a team gathering following a match against Chile. Believing it was a work-related meeting, she attended, but left…

Cape Verdean footballer Ryan Mendes accused of raping national team ... Sally Shakkour Published June 28th, 2026 - 06:58 GMT Cape Verde's forward #20 Ryan Mendes celebrates after scoring his team's first goal from the penalty spot during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2024 round of 16 football match between Cape Verde and Mauritania at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan on January 29, 2024. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) ALBAWABA - Ryan Mendes, the captain of the Cape Verdean football team, is being investigated after accusations of raping the team's translator during the FIFA week last March. While preparing for the 2026 World Cup, the Cape Verdean team reached the second round for the first time in its history after a goalless draw with Saudi Arabia on Friday. Cape Verde qualified for the second round of the FIFA World Cup 2026, where they will face Argentina in the round of 32, after a goalless draw with Saudi Arabia. They advanced as runners-up to Spain, three points behind the Spanish national team. Following Cape Verde's qualification, the renowned Brazilian website "Globo" revealed that their captain, Ryan Mendes, 36, is under investigation for allegedly raping a …

FIFA Breaks Silence on Cape Verde's Ryan Mendes Investigation - HEAVY Unlock the latest Soccer news — direct to your inbox. Get Soccer News Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share via E-mail More share options Share on Pinterest Share on Flipboard Share on Reddit Share on WhatsApp 0 Shares By Alder Almo Updated Jun 28, 2026 at 9:44pm Getty ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 14: Ryan Mendes of Cabo Verde speaks to the media during a press conference one day ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group H match between Spain and Cabo Verde at Atlanta Stadium on June 14, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images) FIFA said it is in contact with New Zealand authorities after a Brazilian woman alleged she sought help from officials with the Cape Verde Football Federation before and after reporting Ryan Mendes to police, according to Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte . The latest report from ge shifts the focus from the allegation itself to how the matter was handled by football authorities after the woman said she reported what had happened. Mendes, Cape Verde’s captain, has played in all three of the team’s matches during its Cinderella run to the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA …