Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes investigated for alleged rape during World Cup stay in New Zealand

Cape Verde forward and captain Ryan Mendes is under active investigation by New Zealand Police after a Brazilian woman, who was serving as the team’s interpreter, alleged that he raped her in a hotel room in Auckland on 27 March 2026. The complaint, filed on 10 April, includes medical reports of injuries and evidence of psychological counselling. No formal charges have been filed and Mendes has remained with the Cape Verde squad throughout its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, captaining the team into the knockout stage.

The case has sparked broader debate within football about how alleged serious criminal conduct is handled at major tournaments. commentators note that players such as Ghana’s Thomas Partey and Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, both facing rape accusations, continue to play in the World Cup, highlighting the sport’s lack of a uniform policy to suspend or stand down accused players. FIFA has said it treats all misconduct allegations "extremely seriously" and is in contact with New Zealand authorities, but no disciplinary action has been taken by the governing body or the Cape Verde Football Federation to date.