FBI Makes Major Move Against Argentine Football Association During World Cup

Argentina's run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been everything fans expected. A dramatic Round of 16 comeback against Egypt, with Lionel Messi missing a penalty and VAR controversy keeping things heated until the final whistle, ended with a 3-2 win and a quarterfinal date with Switzerland.

On the field, the defending champions are very much alive. Off it, things are getting complicated.

FBI Questions Key Witness in Argentine Football Association Investigation

While Argentine Football Association president Claudio Tapia was in Miami with the national team during the tournament, federal authorities were moving forward with a separate investigation into the AFA's financial operations.

According to a report from Terra, FBI agents and U.S. Department of Justice prosecutors sat down with businessman Guillermo Tofoni in Miami for a meeting that ran more than two hours.

The conversation reportedly centered on how the AFA structured its international commercial agreements and whether transactions involving U.S.-based banks and companies broke American law. The financial activity under review is valued at more than $300 million.

Tofoni's testimony is being treated as one of the first significant developments in the federal probe. Investigators are working to trace the flow of money tied to AFA's international business dealings and figure out whether any irregularities took place.

"Chiqui" Tapia himself remains in the United States while Argentina continues its World Cup run. Argentine courts gave him permission to travel despite facing charges at home over the alleged mismanagement of tax and social security funds totaling more than 19 billion Argentine pesos.

At this point no formal U.S. charges have been filed. The investigation is still in its early stages as authorities determine whether the evidence is strong enough to pursue a criminal case under American law.

Argentina's focus right now is Switzerland and what comes after. But the legal cloud hanging over the AFA isn't going away and will likely grow louder the deeper this team goes in the tournament.

Related: Mostafa Ziko Calls the World Cup 'Rigged' After Egypt's Loss to Argentina

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This story was originally published July 8, 2026 at 9:37 AM.