FBI probes diversion of Argentina’s €300m World Cup windfall to shell firm

A sprawling international investigation is underway after more than €42 million of the prize money earned by Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning team was allegedly diverted to a little-known American company with no background in football, signed to a secretive contract just nine days before the final whistle in Qatar.

At the center of the probe is TourProdEnter LLC, a Florida-based entity incorporated in August 2021. According to investigative documents, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) signed an exclusive commercial rights agreement with the firm on December 9, 2022 – a mere nine days before Argentina defeated France in one of the most dramatic finals in World Cup history.

The deal granted TourProdEnter sweeping control over AFA’s international revenue streams, including sponsorship deals, broadcasting rights, and friendly match fees. In return, the contract reportedly entitled the company to a 30% commission on all earnings, with some sources adding an additional 10% logistics fee. Football finance experts have pointed out that this figure dwarfs the industry norm, which typically hovers between 10% and 12% for similar representation.

A ‘Shell’ with No Football Pedigree
TourProdEnter is owned by Argentine theatre producer Javier Faroni and his wife, Érica Gillette. Neither principal has any known history in sports management or football marketing. Investigators have labeled the firm a shell operation, alleging it existed primarily as a financial conduit rather than a legitimate commercial partner.

The financial mechanics of the deal have raised the most alarm. Rather than depositing FIFA’s €42 million direct prize payment into AFA’s corporate accounts, global football’s governing body allegedly transferred the funds directly to TourProdEnter. In total, the company is believed to have processed nearly $300 million of AFA-related revenue through major U.S. financial institutions, including Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase.

Court filings and investigative reports further reveal that roughly $57 million was subsequently paid out to other dormant companies or individuals connected to TourProdEnter. Authorities say these payments lack verifiable supporting documentation or evidence of actual services rendered, describing the transactions as having “no economic rationale.”

Raids and Criminal Scrutiny
The case has triggered parallel probes on two continents. In the United States, the FBI and the Department of Justice are examining potential violations of fraud and money-laundering statutes. In March 2026, federal agents raided AFA’s headquarters in Buenos Aires as part of a coordinated effort with Argentine prosecutors, seizing records related to the controversial contract.

As of today, no formal criminal charges have been filed against AFA executives or the owners of TourProdEnter. The AFA has yet to issue a public statement addressing the specific allegations, though it has previously stated it is cooperating with authorities.

The investigation remains active, and financial watchdogs are now scrutinizing how FIFA’s payment compliance protocols allowed such a large sum to be rerouted away from the national federation’s direct control.