The Argentine Football Association (AFA) is facing scrutiny off the pitch after reports revealed that U.S. authorities have opened an investigation into several of its international financial transactions.

According to reports from American and Argentine media outlets, including La Nación, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in coordination with federal prosecutors specializing in financial crimes, has opened an investigation into financial transfers linked to the Argentine Football Association, headed by Claudio Tapia, that passed through the U.S. banking system.

Financial Transfers Under Scrutiny

The investigation focuses on commercial agreements signed by the AFA outside Argentina, as well as the flow of funds through several U.S. banks, as authorities seek to determine whether the transactions complied with legal requirements or warrant further legal action.

One of the key subjects of the investigation is TourProdEnter LLC, the company responsible for managing part of the AFA's international commercial rights and contracts. Reports indicate that the company handled approximately $260 million, while financial records do not fully explain how a portion of those funds was allocated to specific operational expenses.

The reports also mention an additional $57 million transferred to various companies and beneficiaries, with the available documentation allegedly lacking clear economic justification for some of those payments. This has prompted investigators to broaden their review of the financial transactions.

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Witness Interviews and Document Review

As part of the investigation, FBI agents have begun interviewing witnesses, including businessman Guillermo Tofoni, who reportedly gave testimony remotely to U.S. investigators. Authorities are gathering information on how the AFA managed its commercial agreements and international financial operations.

Investigators are also tracing funds that moved through several U.S. financial institutions to determine whether any transactions may have violated U.S. financial regulations or involved cross-border financial crimes.

Legal Challenges in Argentina

Meanwhile, related legal proceedings in Argentina have progressed more slowly due to legal objections concerning certain documents and the manner in which they were obtained. There is also ongoing debate over whether financial records obtained from the United States can be used in Argentine court proceedings.

These legal disputes have delayed the domestic investigation, while U.S. authorities continue reviewing banking records and financial documents.

No Formal Charges at This Stage

Despite the widespread attention the case has attracted, the investigation remains in its evidence-gathering phase. U.S. authorities have not filed formal charges against the Argentine Football Association or any of its officials, and no court has determined that any criminal wrongdoing has occurred.

The timing of the investigation has intensified public interest, as it coincides with Argentina's participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the controversy surrounding the tournament. As a result, questions have resurfaced regarding the AFA's financial governance and the transparency of its international commercial operations, while the football world awaits the outcome of the ongoing investigation.