Cape Verde Player Preparing For The 2026 World Cup Is Under Police Investigation For Sexual Assault
New Zealand police are investigating an allegation involving a member of the Cape Verde national team. The case stems from an alleged sexual assault that occurred during the FIFA Series in Auckland, New Zealand, last March.
Let’s join bet88 in finding out what’s happening ahead of the upcoming 2026 World Cup.
On May 11th, New Zealand Police Announced They Had Received Notification Of The Incident
In an official statement released this morning (May 11th), New Zealand police said they received a report about the incident on April 10th and launched an investigation. The investigation is now largely complete.
The allegations directly target a player from the Cape Verde national team, who is considered almost certain to be included in the 2026 World Cup squad. The incident occurred at the hotel where the Cape Verde team stayed after their FIFA Series match against Chile on March 27th. While staying with the team, the player allegedly behaved inappropriately towards a woman.
The victim (whose name is being withheld) subsequently reported the incident to the local police. According to the New Zealand Herald, investigators are considering sexual assault charges. Law enforcement officials declined to reveal the identity of the player involved or specific details of the allegations to maintain confidentiality during the investigation.
Cape Verde National Team Has Qualified For The 2026 World Cup After An Extraordinary Journey
Responding to the news, a FIFA spokesperson said the world football governing body “is not in a position to comment.” FIFA affirmed that it needs to respect the rights of all parties involved as the investigation is still ongoing.
The Football Association of New Zealand, as the host of the FIFA Series matches, said that police have not yet contacted them directly regarding the matter. Meanwhile, the Football Association of Cape Verde has not issued an official response. “Attempts to contact them have been unsuccessful,” wrote the New Zealand Herald.
The incident has attracted significant attention as the Cape Verde team is preparing for a historic milestone: their first-ever World Cup appearance. In the upcoming tournament, Cape Verde will face top teams including Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia.
