FBI probes Argentine Football Association over alleged money‑laundering

U.S. federal investigators have opened a probe into the Argentine Football Association (AFA). Agents from the FBI in Washington, D.C., and Miami have interviewed officials about the handling of hundreds of millions of dollars tied to AFA president Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia. The inquiry, led by agents Patrick Gushue and Christopher Ting, is examining whether the transactions violate U.S. money‑laundering and fraud statutes.

French investigative journalist Romain Molina has meanwhile publicised a report branding the AFA a “mafia of Argentine football” and timing his exposé to the 2026 World Cup quarter‑finals. While no specific individuals have been charged, the investigation adds legal pressure to the federation amid its on‑field success. Sponsors and broadcasting partners could face compliance clauses if wrongdoing is confirmed, and the AFA has yet to issue a formal response.

The probe follows earlier U.S. actions against international soccer bodies after the FIFA corruption cases of 2015, highlighting ongoing scrutiny of financial flows that pass through U.S. banking channels.