Argentina FA faces scrutiny over alleged €42M World Cup funds diversion to Florida shell companies
Reporter Romain Molina revealed several controversial details regarding the Argentina FA.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) is under heavy scrutiny after fresh allegations were levelled against it over the reported mishandling of FIFA World Cup 2022 funds.
According to a post by journalist Romain Molina, more than €42 million from Argentina’s World Cup prize money was diverted through shell companies linked to a Miami-based commercial partner, TourProdEnter.
Investigative journalist Federico Dario Teijeiro previously reported the allegations, revealing that the AFA signed a commercial agreement with TourProdEnter, a company reportedly with no links to football, on December 9, 2021.
The agreement reportedly handed TourProdEnter a 30% share of the AFA’s World Cup-related commercial revenue. Media reports also alleged that FIFA had transferred part of the funds directly to the company.
La Albiceleste went on to beat France in the 2022 World Cup to lift their third title. Lionel Messi scored twice, and Kylian Mbappe netted a hat-trick as the match ended in a 3-3 draw in regulation time. Argentina went on to win 4-2 on penalties.
Also Read: FBI launches probe on Argentina Football Association over alleged money laundering
Argentina FA-TourProdEnter deal details
TourProdEnter, a firm based in Miami, is owned by Javier Horacio Faroni and Erica Gabriela Gillette. They signed an “International Commercial Agent Agreement” with the AFA, acting as the federation’s exclusive international commercial agent outside Argentina until the end of 2026.
They reportedly pocketed a commission of approximately 82.8 million dollars as well as 10% of the logistics costs linked to money transfer. The remainder of the money was supposed to be returned to the federation.
However, according to the new allegations, the company used only a small part of the proceeds for football-related purposes. Most of the funds were used for purchasing private jets, luxury holiday residences, yachts, premium vehicles, karting equipment, high-end real estate, equestrian activities, hairdressing services, and VIP theatre tickets.
Molina’s expose further alleged that more than 60 million dollars were transferred to shell companies, many of which were later dissolved after receiving the funds. This has led to the FBI launching a money laundering investigation into the AFA.
Despite the off-field troubles, the Argentine team have been in good form in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026. La Albiceleste overcame a few scares in the knockout stages to reach the quarter-finals, where they are scheduled to face Norway.
What was the Argentina FA’s deal with TourProdEnter?
In December 2021, the AFA signed an “International Commercial Agent Agreement” giving TourProdEnter a 30% share of FIFA World Cup‑related commercial revenue until 2026.
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Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.