Colombia and Portugal define the leader of Group K

FIFA confirmed that it has already initiated contacts with the New Zealand authorities following the complaint of sexual assault filed by a Brazilian woman against Ryan Mendes, forward and captain of the Cape Verde national team. The player will face Argentina in the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup.

The facts according to the complaint

The Brazilian newspaper O Globo revealed that the sexual assault occurred in Auckland, New Zealand, where local police are investigating the case. The complainant worked as an interpreter for the Cape Verde team during a tour of Oceania last March. According to her story, Mendes entered her room, physically assaulted her and then sexually assaulted her. The outlet published photographs of the injuries suffered by the woman and a WhatsApp conversation in which an official from the Cape Verde federation described the incident as “Ryan’s personal matter,” without offering support.

FIFA’s position

After the spread of the case, organizations requested the exclusion of Mendes from the 2026 World Cup. The Cape Verdean Football Federation and FIFA were notified of the incident. In a statement sent to O Globo, the entity chaired by Gianni Infantino stated:

“FIFA takes any reports of inappropriate conduct very seriously and has a clear procedure for anyone in the football community who wishes to report an incident.”

The text adds that independent judicial bodies do not comment on complaints received or ongoing investigations. “Any information they wish to share will be disclosed at their discretion. We cannot comment further at the moment,” FIFA concludes.

The Cape Verde team, which faces Argentina, is under scrutiny as the investigation progresses in New Zealand.

Record-breaking prices

The match between the Mexican National Team and Ecuador, scheduled for this Tuesday, June 30 at the Mexico City stadium, is not only one of the most attractive of the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup, but also the most expensive.

According to data from Ticketdata, a platform that monitors the value of tickets, the average ticket for this match reaches 3,259 dollars, equivalent to almost 60 thousand Mexican pesos.

Demand has been increasing since Javier Aguirre’s El Tri secured their pass. In March 2026 the cost was around 14 thousand pesos. After the rival was confirmed on Saturday, prices shot up to 50 thousand pesos and remain at that level.

A full stadium despite the cost

Although admissions are through the roof, the building is expected to be completely full. The match exceeds the price of matches between Argentina and Portugal in the same phase, according to Ticketdata.

The organizing body had already sold some tickets through packages, but there is still limited availability for sale and resale. The fever for the duel is such that it marks a price record in this round of the tournament.

Unexpected resignation in Czech football

The Football Association of the Czech Republic (FACR) confirmed the resignation of technical director Miroslav Koubek, 74, after the elimination in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup. Koubek had a contract valid until 2028, but decided to step aside.

The Czech team finished last in Group A with only one point: they drew 1-1 against South Africa and lost 2-1 against South Korea and 3-0 against Mexico. Despite having qualified the country for a World Cup after a 20-year absence, the strategist argued external reasons for his departure.

“My decision is also due to a media campaign based on a series of half-truths about me. In this context, my work for the Czech national team would no longer make sense,” Koubek said in an official statement.

The president of the FACR, David Trunda, explained that Koubek presented his formal resignation during a meeting after the delegation’s return to the country. The departure of the helmsman adds to the recent loss of striker Patrik Schick, who days ago announced the end of his international cycle with 56 games and 26 goals.