Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes is under investigation over allegations of rape ahead of the Argentina clash

Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes is being investigated by police (Image: X) Cape Verde’s remarkable World Cup campaign has been overshadowed by serious developments off the pitch, with captain Ryan Mendes currently under investigation by New Zealand police following allegations of rape by a Brazilian woman.The allegation was first reported by Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte, who said the complaint related to an incident that allegedly took place in March 2026 during Cape Verde’s participation in the FIFA series in Auckland. New Zealand police have confirmed an investigation is ongoing, although no criminal charges have been laid against Mendes at this stage. As the investigation continues, Mendes is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

What the complaint states

According to the complaint reviewed by Globo Esporte, the woman is a Brazilian national living in New Zealand who was hired by New Zealand Football as an interpreter and operational liaison for the Cape Verdean delegation during the FIFA series. She claims she attended what she thought was a business meeting at the team hotel after Cape Verde’s friendly against Chile. Realizing it was a social gathering, she returned to her room. The complaint alleges that Mendes later entered her room without permission, physically assaulted and raped her.The woman reportedly submitted a detailed statement to police along with photos of her injuries and medical records. Globo Esporte also reported that she underwent a judicial examination and received medical and psychological support following the alleged incident.

A police investigation is underway

New Zealand police have confirmed that the complaint lodged in April remains under active investigation. Authorities have secured CCTV footage from the Auckland hotel and are awaiting the results of forensic examinations as part of the investigation. Police have not publicly identified any suspects and no arrests or formal charges have been announced.FIFA respondsFIFA acknowledged the matter in a statement, saying it was taking allegations of wrongdoing “extremely seriously” and was in contact with New Zealand authorities. Meanwhile, FIFA issued a statement on the matter, saying it takes “any allegations of misconduct” seriously and is in contact with New Zealand authorities. “Please understand that we cannot comment further at this stage,” FIFA told USA TODAY.

The World Cup campaign continues

Despite the ongoing investigation, Mendes remained with the Cape Verde team and captained the team during its historic FIFA World Cup campaign. Cape Verde have advanced to the knockout stages for the first time in the country’s history and will face defending champions Argentina in the round of 32.