World Cup Fallout: Argentina FA Denies Reports President, Treasurer Were Detained in US

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has strongly denied reports that its president, Claudio Tapia and treasurer, Pablo Toviggino, were detained and questioned by United States authorities following Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.

The federation, however, confirmed that US authorities are investigating a third party with links to the association.

The clarification followed media reports alleging that Tapia and Toviggino were detained at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport while preparing to leave the United States with the Argentine national team after Sunday's World Cup final.

According to the reports, the two officials were allegedly held for questioning, had their electronic devices seized and were later summoned to appear in court over international contracts involving the AFA.

But the Argentine football governing body dismissed the reports as “absolutely false”.

“All lies,” an AFA source told AFP, while the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) declined to comment on the matter.

In its statement, however, the AFA acknowledged that a US district court in Florida had issued a summons concerning “a third party”.

The individual, the federation said, had been asked to appear before a grand jury and provide documents and communications that could be connected to several individuals, including officials of the AFA.

The federation did not identify the person involved or provide further details about the nature of the investigation.

Tapia has led the AFA since 2017 and has played a prominent role in Argentine football administration during a period of major success for the national team.

However, the federation has faced several investigations in Argentina, including a probe into alleged money laundering and another relating to suspected tax evasion.

The latest reports also come against the backdrop of growing political tensions between Tapia and the administration of Argentine President Javier Milei.

Relations between the AFA leadership and Milei's government have become increasingly strained, particularly over the president's push to introduce private ownership structures for football clubs in Argentina.

Tapia, a former trade unionist, has strongly opposed Milei's proposal to privatise football clubs, putting the football administrator at odds with the president's broader economic agenda.

The AFA's denial comes just days after Argentina's national team returned home following its 2026 World Cup final defeat to Spain in the United States.

The federation's statement sought to draw a clear distinction between the reported claims involving its senior officials and the US legal proceedings involving an unidentified third party.

The nature and scope of the US investigation remain unclear, and there has been no official indication that Tapia or Toviggino are themselves targets of the grand jury proceedings.

AFP