The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the US Department of Justice have opened a preliminary inquiry into the financial operations of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) on American soil, focusing on allegations of money laundering and bank fraud, according to Argentine media reports. The probe, unfolding as Argentina competes in the 2026 World Cup hosted by the United States, centres on the role of TourProdEnter LLC, a Florida-based company that handled international commercial revenues for the federation. US federal prosecutors are examining whether transactions routed through major American banks violated federal law.

Viewed from Washington, the investigation remains in its early stages, with prosecutors Patrick Gushue, Christopher Ting and Michael Berger gathering testimony and financial records. Argentine businessman Guillermo Tofoni, who has a long-standing dispute with AFA leadership, provided a three-hour deposition via video conference to FBI agents and prosecutors in late June, Buenos Aires-based media report. The AFA, through its US representative Tomás Regalado, has not formally responded to the probe but has publicly invoked the presumption of innocence, arguing that investigative steps do not imply guilt. The federation’s president, Claudio Tapia, is present in the US for the tournament.

The financial flows under scrutiny involve at least $260 million in AFA revenues managed by TourProdEnter LLC, a company owned by theatre producer Javier Faroni and his wife Erica Gillette. Argentine media, citing bank records, report that around $57 million of those funds were distributed to companies and individuals with no clear economic justification, including entities controlled by people receiving social welfare benefits in Argentina. Some transfers allegedly went to firms linked to AFA treasurer Pablo Toviggino and his family. The US investigation seeks to trace the path of funds from sponsorship deals with multinationals such as Adidas and Warner, which were channelled through accounts at Citibank, Bank of America, JPMorgan, PNC Bank and Synovus.

The US inquiry follows a separate domestic investigation in Argentina, where police raided AFA offices and 18 football clubs in December 2025 on suspicion of money laundering. That operation, led by Argentine security forces, also examined the role of a local financial firm linked to Tapia. The US probe, which began taking shape in 2025, was initially prompted by information shared by Argentina’s then-security minister Patricia Bullrich with US officials in September 2024, though the FBI at the time deemed the evidence insufficient to open a criminal case. The current investigation remains preliminary, with no formal charges filed. US prosecutors are expected to decide whether to pursue a full criminal inquiry after the World Cup, according to Argentine media.