By Amaechi Agbo

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and federal prosecutors from the U.S. Department of Justice, have launched a preliminary investigation into the financial operations of the Argentine Football Association (AFA).

Investigators are examining whether the AFA, led by president Claudio Tapia, channeled hundreds of millions of dollars through the U.S. financial system in a manner that constitutes money laundering or fraud.

The probe centers heavily on a Florida-based company called TourProdEnter LLC, which acts as the offshore collection agent for the AFA’s international commercial agreements and sponsorships (including major deals with companies like Adidas and Warner).

Banking documents indicate that at least $260 million in AFA revenue was routed through major U.S. financial institutions—including Citibank, Bank of America, and JP Morgan—with an additional $57 million distributed to entities lacking clear business justifications.

reports indicate that U.S. prosecutors have already started taking testimony from witnesses in Miami. No formal criminal charges have been filed yet, and the investigation remains in its preliminary stages.

The news of the FBI probe broke via the Argentine newspaper La Nación. It comes directly alongside the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup, right after Argentina’s controversial Round of 16 victory against Egypt.

The AFA has historically denied these types of financial allegations, previously dismissing domestic investigations as politically motivated attempts to destabilize the federation.

Despite the legal shadow and the fact that Tapia is traveling under a special U.S. judicial bond due to separate tax cases back home, Argentina’s participation in the tournament remains unaffected as they prepare for the quarter-final against Switzerland.