Whilst the Argentine football team continues to progress in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the country’s national football league, AFA, has been placed under investigation from the FBI and US’ DOJ over possible money laundering and fraud scandal.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) is under investigation in the US following accusations of possible money laundering and fraud.
The investigation puts a dampener on the team’s performance throughout the World Cup, with the Argentine team, captained by Lionel Messi, currently preparing for its World Cup quarter-final on 11 July.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) opened the case against the AFA after it found that the organisation had moved over $300m into US banks and companies through a US-based entity called TourProdEnter LLC.
The AFA moved these funds into five US financial institutions: Citibank, Bank of America, JP Morgan, PNC Bank and Synovus. Argentine news outlet, La Nácion, which first broke the news, found $260m of AFA revenues had been moved to the aforementioned bank accounts, whilst $57m was moved to different companies that it was not able to document.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has reportedly questioned AFA President Claudio Tapia regarding the money transfers and its international commercial agreements. The investigation probe centres around whether or not the AFA has broken US financial laws.
The DOJ questioned Tapia over a Zoom video call, alongside businessman Guillermo Tofoni who was also questioned over possible breaches of money laundering and fraud.
La Nácion also revealed that investigators are looking for witnesses in connection to the case, including Pablo Toviggino, Head of the Treasury at the AFA.
Toviggino, Tapia and two other AFA officials appeared in court in March 2026 to testify whether the football organisation had illegally withheld up to $13m in taxes and pensions between 2024 to 2025.
What is the investigation alleging?
At the centre of the investigation is TourProdEnterLLC., a Florida-based company that was founded in 2021 to serve as the AFA’s international commercial agent to handle its sponsorship, commercial and matchday revenue in the US.
TourProdEnter allegedly gains 30% from AFA international revenue, with a 10% commission on expenses. The company then allegedly moves the money into its banking accounts from the aforementioned US banks.
Both La Nácion and Inc. have reported that investigators are questioning whether the money being facilitated to TourProdEnter was legally and correctly taxed and reported to the relevant authorities.
Reports in Argentina have linked the funds to alleged spending into luxury purchases, such as private jets, yachts and mansions.
The FBI and those investigated have noted that no charges have been placed and this is just a preliminary investigation process.
The timing of the FBI’s investigation comes just as the 2026 FIFA World Cup is reaching the quarter final stages, in which Argentina is aiming to retain the trophy as it prepares for its matchup against Switzerland in the US.
The AFA has secured over 60 international sponsorships with the likes of Adidas, HSBC and American Express, making it one the most successful sponsoring football associations in the world.
Speaking to Insider Sport in 2024, Leandro Petersen, Chief Marketing Officer at the AFA, said through these commercial deals, it became the number one e-commerce seller with sponsorships all over the globe.
