Argentina’s remarkable run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been overshadowed by reports that the Argentine Football Federation (AFA) are being probed by federal prosecutors and agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) over their financial operations in the United States.
The investigation seeks to determine whether transactions linked to the Argentina Football Federation, including sponsorship payments from companies such as Adidas and Warner Bros. Discovery, could constitute fraud and money laundering under U.S. law.
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According to Argentine newspaper La Nacion, investigators have begun taking testimonies from individuals with knowledge of the AFA’s financial activities.
Among the reported witnesses is Argentine sports businessman Guillermo Tofoni, who participated in a three-hour interview via a videoconferencing platform with prosecutors and FBI agents based in Washington, D.C., and Miami.
The report stated that the investigation centres on financial transactions linked to TourProdEnter LLC, a company associated with the AFA’s commercial activities. It was alleged that the company moved at least $260 million through accounts opened at five U.S. financial entities – Citibank, Synovus, Bank of America, JP Morgan, and PNC Bank.
However, only a part of those funds can be directly linked to identifiable operating expenses of the body headed by Claudio Tapia. Another $57 million was reportedly distributed to various companies whose origin and destination are still under review by investigators.
The outlet claimed the preliminary investigation began taking shape in 2025 and is being led by three federal prosecutors. They include Patrick Gushue and Christopher Ting, based in Washington DC, and Michael Berger, in the Southern District of Florida.
La Nacion also alleged that payments appeared to have been made to two companies linked to the AFA treasurer and executive secretary, Pablo Toviggino, and his family.
The development comes at a very critical time for Argentina. The 2022 world champions are eyeing a back-to-back FIFA World Cup titles after staging a dramatic comeback against Egypt on Tuesday, July 7. They will face Switzerland in the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Edited by Ezekiel Olamide
