FBI Investigates Argentine Football Federation

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and federal prosecutors in the United States are scrutinizing the financial dealings of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) during the ongoing World Cup. This news was broken by “La Nación” just hours after Argentina's hard-fought 3-2 victory over Egypt in the Round of 16.

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According to reports, federal prosecutors and FBI agents are gathering testimonies regarding the AFA's financial operations within the United States. They are attempting to ascertain whether the organization, led by Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia, funneled hundreds of millions of dollars through the American financial system via transactions that could constitute crimes such as money laundering or fraud.

Investigators have reportedly conducted initial interviews and are seeking further witnesses concerning the actions of Tapia and his treasurer, Pablo Toviggino. Information is also being collected about “TourProdEnter” LLC, a company that “managed the collection of funds from the organization's commercial contracts abroad.” U.S. justice initiated a preliminary investigation in 2025, spearheaded by three prosecutors. Initial data suggests that AFA revenues totaling $260 million (nearly €230 million) were managed by “TourProdEnter” LLC through five American bank accounts.

“These transfers include payments totaling tens of millions of dollars to companies that, according to documents analyzed by 'La Nación,' show no trace of services rendered and were controlled by individuals receiving social benefits and residing in Bariloche or Buenos Aires,” the media outlet stated. Argentine justice had already alerted U.S. authorities in September 2024 about “potential risk areas related to the sports organization.”

In late December, another investigation revealed that “TourProdEnter” LLC served as a “revenue collection vehicle” for AFA's international contracts worth several hundred million dollars (such as the $53 million Adidas deal and the $35 million Warner contract). In return, the company received 30% of AFA's total international revenue (after taxes) over the past four years, the Argentine newspaper explained. It also took a commission equal to 10% of the expenses related to the logistics of these operations. “These transactions are among the documents currently being reviewed by the Department of Justice and the FBI to determine whether to initiate a formal criminal investigation under U.S. jurisdiction,” “La Nación” concluded.