Argentina's forward #10 Lionel Messi has tears in his eyes as celebrates winning the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta on July 7, 2026. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP)
United States federal prosecutors and agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation have launched a preliminary probe into the financial operations of the Argentine Football Association in the US.
They are investigating whether transactions linked to the body could constitute money laundering or fraud under American law.
According to a report published on Wednesday by Argentine newspaper La Nacion, investigators from the US Department of Justice have begun taking testimony from individuals with knowledge of the AFA’s financial activities in the United States as the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues.
The report said investigators are seeking to determine how the football body, led by Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia, channelled hundreds of millions of dollars through the US financial system and whether any of those transactions violated US laws.
