The United States Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have launched a preliminary probe into the financial operations of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) over allegations of money laundering and bank fraud involving hundreds of millions of dollars channeled through the US financial system.
According to a report published by Argentine newspaper La Nacion, investigators have begun taking testimony from individuals with knowledge of the AFA’s financial activities in the United States as the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues . The investigation centres on whether transactions linked to the football body, led by President Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia, violated US laws .
Focus on TourProdEnter LLC
The probe focuses on TourProdEnter LLC, a Florida-based company that managed the collection of the AFA’s international commercial contracts . According to bank records analysed by La Nacion, the company managed at least $260 million in revenue from the AFA through accounts at Citibank, Synovus, Bank of America, JP Morgan, and PNC Bank .
However, only a portion of these funds can be directly linked to identifiable operating expenses of the organisation . An additional $57 million was distributed to various companies and beneficiaries whose economic justification remains unclear, including transfers to companies controlled by individuals who reportedly received social welfare benefits in Argentina .
Witness Testimony
One witness, businessman Guillermo Tofoni, participated in a three-hour virtual interview last week with federal prosecutors and FBI agents based in Washington, D.C., and Miami . According to Infobae, Tofoni was also questioned in person during a meeting that extended over two hours . When contacted by La Nacion, Tofoni declined to confirm or deny the meeting .
Investigation Team
The preliminary inquiry, which began taking shape in 2025, is being led by federal prosecutors Patrick Gushue and Christopher Ting in Washington, D.C., alongside Michael Berger in the Southern District of Florida . Gushue is part of the Justice Department’s Bank Integrity Unit, while Berger previously prosecuted a money laundering case against Ecuador’s former comptroller general in Miami .
US authorities are also considering interviewing former officials in the Argentine government who may have had oversight or knowledge of the AFA’s operations . The AFA has stressed the importance of the presumption of innocence, with its North American ambassador, Tomás Regalado, stating that investigative measures alone “do not determine responsibility or culpability” .
The Department of Justice has not formally confirmed details of the investigation, which remains in a preliminary phase with no criminal charges filed at this time .
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