World Cup: FBI Launches Money Laundering, Fraud Probe Into Argentine FA

United States federal prosecutors and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have opened a preliminary investigation into the financial activities of the Argentine Football Association, AFA, over allegations of possible money laundering and fraud involving transactions conducted through the US financial system.

The development was reported on Wednesday by Argentine newspaper La Nacion, which said investigators from the US Department of Justice have begun interviewing individuals believed to possess firsthand knowledge of the football body’s commercial operations in the United States.

According to the report, the inquiry seeks to determine whether financial transactions linked to the AFA, under the leadership of Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia, complied with American laws governing fraud and money laundering.

Investigators are also examining how hundreds of millions of dollars allegedly moved through the US banking system as part of the association’s international commercial activities.

One of the individuals reportedly questioned is businessman Guillermo Tofoni, who allegedly participated in a three hour virtual interview with FBI agents and federal prosecutors based in Washington DC and Miami.

Although Tofoni declined to confirm or deny the meeting when contacted by La Nacion, the newspaper said investigators were gathering testimony from people familiar with the AFA’s financial dealings and commercial agreements.

The report identified TourProdEnter LLC, a company owned by theatre producer Javier Faroni, as one of the entities under scrutiny. The company reportedly handled payments arising from the association’s commercial contracts outside Argentina.

According to La Nacion, investigators are also considering interviewing former Argentine government officials who may have had oversight or knowledge of the AFA’s financial activities.

The newspaper further reported that the inquiry, which allegedly began taking shape in 2025, is being led by federal prosecutors Patrick Gushue, Christopher Ting and Michael Berger.

It claimed that TourProdEnter LLC managed at least 260 million US dollars in revenue on behalf of the AFA, while approximately 57 million dollars was reportedly distributed to companies and beneficiaries whose economic justification could not be established from documents reviewed by the publication.

The report also alleged that some payments were made to companies linked to Pablo Toviggino and members of his family.

Neither the US Department of Justice nor the FBI has publicly confirmed the investigation. The AFA has also not commented directly on the allegations but has previously stressed the importance of the presumption of innocence regarding the matter.