At New York’s airport, the head of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), Claudio Tapia, was detained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) following the 2026 World Cup final. This was reported by Argentine television channel TN on July 22.
“According to reports, members of the Argentine Football Association were taken into custody by FBI agents at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York just minutes before boarding a flight back to Argentina along with part of the national team that took part in the recent World Cup,” the article states.
It is noted that the incident occurred amid an investigation into financial transactions involving the Argentine Football Association and businessmen linked to the governing body of Argentine football. According to court documents, AFA officials are required to appear before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on July 30.
Meanwhile, in a statement from the AFA cited by TN, it is argued that the document referenced in the reports is not a subpoena directed at Tapia or treasurer Pablo Toviggino. Furthermore, the AFA strongly denied claims that Tapia or Toviggino were summoned to court to testify, as well as assertions that their mobile phones or other electronic devices were confiscated.
Sky Sports reported on July 20 that the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) will launch an investigation into aggressive behavior by representatives of Argentina’s national team following the conclusion of the World Cup final. According to the outlet, the disciplinary proceedings are linked to a series of incidents that occurred immediately after the final whistle.
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