Hours after unsubstantiated media reports claimed two of the Argentine Football Association (AFA)’s most senior leaders were detained by U.S. authorities following the 2026 World Cup final, the governing body has issued a forceful rejection of the claims, while confirming an ongoing federal investigation targeting an unaffiliated third party with loose ties to the organization.
The rumors, which spread rapidly across global sports media this week, alleged that AFA President Claudio Tapia and Treasurer Pablo Toviggino were taken into custody for questioning at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. Reports further claimed the pair had their electronic devices seized and were ordered to appear in court in connection with disputes over the AFA’s international sponsorship and commercial contracts. The alleged incident was said to have occurred as the Argentine national team prepared to fly home following its final match against Spain, which Argentina lost on Sunday.
In an official statement released Wednesday, the AFA dismissed every element of these reports as “absolutely false.” A senior anonymous source within the organization confirmed the denial to Agence France-Presse (AFP), simply calling the claims “all lies.” When reached for comment on the allegations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) declined to provide any official statement on the matter.
While the AFA pushed back hard on claims of detaining its top leaders, it did confirm that a Florida district court has issued a summons for an unnamed third party with connections to the federation. According to the AFA’s statement, this individual has been called to appear before a federal grand jury and submit documentation and communications that may involve multiple people, including current AFA officials.
Tapia, a former trade unionist who has led the AFA since 2017, already faces multiple ongoing investigations into the governing body within Argentina’s domestic legal system. One open probe centers on allegations of money laundering tied to AFA operations, while a second investigation is focused on claims of unreported income and tax evasion.
Beyond legal challenges, Tapia’s leadership has also put the AFA at odds with Argentina’s new far-right presidential administration led by Javier Milei. Relations between the two sides have grown increasingly strained in recent months, largely due to Tapia’s vocal opposition to Milei’s signature policy proposal to privatize all professional football clubs across Argentina. The current controversy comes as the AFA navigates both domestic political upheaval and new international scrutiny from U.S. law enforcement.