Is Sabrina Carpenter Really Dating Ecuador’s Piero Hincapié?

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup heats up, so do the celebrity dating rumours surrounding its players. American pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter was recently spotted in the stands enthusiastically cheering for Ecuador during their World Cup fixture, igniting widespread speculation that she may have a romantic connection with someone on the team. Ecuador’s centre-back Piero Hincapié quickly became the name at the centre of those rumours, following a viral post that spread rapidly across social media.

The Viral Post — And Why It Fell Apart

The dating claims originated from an X (formerly Twitter) account called The Touchmine, which alleged it had received insider information about a secret romance between Sabrina Carpenter and Piero Hincapié. The post further claimed the information had been sourced from TMZ. However, when fans rushed to verify the story on TMZ’s official page, they found no such report existed. The original post had no credible backing, making it an entirely unfounded claim. Fans were left puzzled as to why Hincapié in particular was singled out among all Ecuadorian players to be linked with Carpenter.

Both Are Currently Single

Part of what made the rumour feel believable to many was the fact that both individuals are reportedly single following recent high-profile breakups. Sabrina Carpenter and Irish actor Barry Keoghan first sparked dating speculation in 2023, later going public as a couple — even attending the Met Gala 2024 together and sharing a double date with Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. Barry also appeared as Sabrina’s on-screen love interest in her music video for Please Please Please. Over time, insiders reportedly noted that Barry’s “party lifestyle” was creating friction in the relationship, with his behaviour after drinking becoming increasingly difficult for Sabrina to navigate, ultimately leading to their split.

On Piero Hincapié’s side, the Ecuadorian defender parted ways with Spanish influencer and model Aura de la Cruz in June 2026 — right in the middle of Ecuador’s World Cup campaign. Aura addressed the breakup publicly through a social media post, stating that “there has been too much prying” in their relationship and that she had been subjected to unnecessary online harassment. She clarified that their separation was entirely mutual and had nothing to do with Ecuador’s results on the pitch. Details about when the two had first begun dating remain unclear, as rumours of their romance surfaced only about a month before the breakup was announced.

As of now, neither Sabrina Carpenter nor Piero Hincapié has confirmed any romantic involvement with one another, and the viral claim linking them remains without a credible source.