An unexpected development unfolded as Argentina's football team prepared to leave the United States after the FIFA World Cup 2026. Reports on social media claimed that Argentina Football Association (AFA) president Claudio 'Chiqui' Tapia was stopped by US authorities just before boarding the team's charter flight to Buenos Aires. Officials reportedly questioned him and seized his mobile phone as part of an ongoing FBI investigation into alleged money laundering linked to AFA commercial deals.

According to several reports, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation is looking into claims that hundreds of millions of dollars in sponsorship money linked to the AFA passed through US banks in suspicious transactions. Tapia was set to travel home with members of Argentina's World Cup squad when law enforcement officers intervened. Local media outlet Infobae reported that officials questioned him shortly before departure. Some reports also claimed that authorities took Tapia into custody. The AFA strongly denied those claims.

The Argentine Football Association later issued an official statement to clarify the situation. It said that neither its president, Claudio Tapia, nor its treasurer, Pablo Toviggino, had received any order from a US court to give evidence. The association stated that US authorities had instead summoned a third party to appear before a grand jury. That individual may provide evidence related to several people, including officials connected with the organisation.

The AFA did not reveal the identity of the person who received the summons. It also stressed that US authorities had not directly targeted either Tapia or Toviggino. The statement attempted to distance the senior officials from the legal action while confirming that an investigation involving people linked to the association is underway.

Infobae reported that US investigators are examining commercial contracts linked to the AFA worth more than 300 million dollars. The reported investigation forms part of a wider probe into financial activities connected to Argentine football. The scrutiny intensified after authorities carried out raids in December as part of a money-laundering investigation.

A witness at the airport described what happened before the team's departure. According to the witness, federal agents boarded a bus carrying Argentina's delegation and questioned both Tapia and Toviggino for around 30 minutes. The questioning reportedly took place while the players and officials waited to board their charter flight. The reports sparked widespread attention across Argentina and the football world.

US investigators are reportedly examining whether money connected to the AFA moved through American financial institutions in transactions that may have violated financial laws. Authorities are looking into claims that the funds passed through US banks as part of possible money laundering or fraud. The investigation now focuses on the movement of money linked to commercial agreements signed by the association.

Reports also suggest that bank records form a key part of the investigation. According to the available information, millions of dollars moved through several US financial institutions over a short period. The records reportedly show that some of the money remained in those accounts for only a few days before authorities traced further transfers. Investigators are now studying those financial movements to determine whether they followed legal procedures.

The case caught significant attention due to its timing. The reported questioning took place just as Argentina's national team completed its World Cup campaign and prepared to return home. The incident quickly became one of the biggest talking points after the tournament, with social media reports spreading rapidly across several countries.

Despite the reports, the AFA continues to reject claims that its top officials have become direct targets of US legal action. The association maintains that neither Tapia nor Toviggino has been summoned by US courts. It also insists that reports claiming Tapia was taken into custody are false.

The FBI has not publicly released detailed findings from the investigation. However, reports indicate that US authorities continue to examine financial records, commercial contracts and banking transactions linked to the AFA. The investigation remains active, while officials work to determine whether any financial crimes took place through the US banking system. As the probe continues, football authorities in Argentina face growing scrutiny over the handling of major sponsorship deals and the movement of large sums of money through international financial networks.