New Zealand authorities are looking into a reported incident concerning a footballer from Cape Verde, a nation that has qualified for the World Cup, during the FIFA Series held in Auckland this past March.
“New Zealand Police can confirm an allegation is under investigation, reported to us on 10 April 2026 in central Auckland,” a statement to The Athletic said. Local media outlet the New Zealand Herald reported that the complaint involves an alleged sexual assault following a match between Cape Verde and Chile at Eden Park on Friday, March 27, and implicates a Cape Verde player.
New Zealand Football (NZF), which organized the Auckland-based FIFA Series, stated it was aware of “allegations relating to a player from Cape Verde and their actions while visiting Auckland” after media reports surfaced, but noted it has not yet been contacted by police. The Cape Verdean Football Federation (FCF) has been approached for comment.
The alleged incident occurred during March’s FIFA Series, a set of four-team international friendly tournaments hosted across eight countries. New Zealand welcomed Cape Verde, Finland, and Chile in one such event, designed by world football’s governing body to enable cross-confederation matchups. Each team played only two of the other nations; Cape Verde lost 4-2 to Chile and drew 1-1 with Finland.
FIFA has indicated it will contact NZF regarding the reported incident. Sources with knowledge of the tournament’s operations, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the host country’s member association—in this case, New Zealand—is responsible for organizing and running the tournament, including security and safety. FIFA maintains a reporting mechanism for concerns and potential misconduct, but any outcomes will be determined by local law enforcement.
Cape Verde, an island nation, will make its first-ever World Cup appearance after securing automatic qualification in October by topping Group D in African qualifying, ahead of Cameroon, Libya, Angola, Mauritius, and Eswatini.