Few teams are as heavily anticipated in the 2026 FIFA World Cup as Argentina. As the World Cup’s defending champions, they’re hoping for a repeat of their 2022 performance. But as the competition draws near, a barrage of legal issues could keep Argentina from competing. The president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) is facing allegations of money laundering, tax evasion, and financial fraud. Although an outright ban of Argentina’s team is a worst-case scenario, FIFA strictly prohibits government and political interference with the internal operations of its member organizations. Read on to learn why these charges matter and how this unfortunate turn of events could play out.

What’s Happening With the AFA?

In March, the AFA’s president, Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia, was formally charged for an alleged $13 million tax evasion scheme. Tapia’s assets have been seized by the Argentine government, and he’s additionally facing extensive probes for money laundering.

The AFA president’s alleged money schemes aren’t the biggest concern for FIFA. In addition to the AFA’s legal and financial troubles, Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, is pushing to privatize the country’s non-profit, member-run football clubs. The goal is to convert football clubs into publicly traded sports corporations or Sociedades Anonimas Deportivas (SADs). The AFA and Claudio Tapia staunchly oppose this transition. The push to privatize and the formal charges filed against Tapia have unfortunate timing.

Which Government Actions Could Violate FIFA Regulations?

President Javier Milei’s continued press against the AFA’s wishes is a direct violation of FIFA rules. This major power struggle is hardly new. In 2024, both FIFA and CONMEBOL warned the AFA that government interference could lead to disaffiliation. Disaffiliation would marginalize Argentina and all other AFA teams from all competitions. Though unlikely this close to the tournament, a continued legal press against the AFA could cause problems for Argentina.

Why an Outright Ban of Argentina Is Unlikely

The Messi Effect, or the truly transformative cultural, commercial, and economic impact of Argentina’s and Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi isn’t just a Major League Soccer (MLS) phenomenon. Messi is a moneymaker, and his appearance at World Cup events is sure to drive ticket sales and bring profits in other areas, especially at US venues.

This close to the tournament, FIFA is highly unlikely to ban Argentina from the competition. Historically, FIFA has issued warnings and closely monitored situations like these, rather than stripping the competition of key teams and their star players.

What these legal challenges have done is cast a cloud over Argentina’s title defense. Worse still, they’re hardly the only legal battles that the team is facing.

FIFA Has Extended the Ban of Argentina’s Gianluca Prestianni

As a disciplinary measure for racist remarks against Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior, the UEFA gave Gianluca Prestianni a six-match ban. On May 6, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee extended this ban to have a worldwide effect.

Three of the six matches of Prestianni’s suspension have been deferred for two years, and Prestianni has already served one. Although Prestianni can still compete in the FIFA World Cup if called up, he’ll miss two of the team’s group stage events. As of May 11, Argentina’s head coach, Lionel Scaloni, has Prestianni listed on his 55-player preliminary World Cup squad.

Lionel Messi and the AFA Face Breach of Contract Charges

Both Lionel Messi and the AFA are facing a $7 million fraud and breach of contract lawsuit from VID, a Miami-based event promotor. VID was given exclusive rights to promote Argentina’s friendlies against Puerto Rico and Venezuela with the condition that Lionel Messi played in each for at least 30 minutes. The only condition that could relieve Messi of this responsibility without liability for financial losses was physical injury.

Lionel Messi attended the Venezuela friendly but watched the game from a luxury suite. VID claims that Messi couldn’t have been injured during this event, given that he scored two goals in a match for Inter Miami on the following day. VID claims that Messi’s no-show led to millions of dollars in losses. Although Messi did play in the Puerto Rico friendly, where he led Argentina to a 6-0 victory, VID claims that the execution of this game and its last-minute relocation resulted in losses as well.

While these legal challenges won’t have an impact on Messi’s ability to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup or any other tournament, they represent an added source of stress before the player’s title defense.

Scaloni Hopes Messi Will Delay Retirement

Although Lionel Messi hasn’t officially retired from Argentina, he has hinted at ending his international career. In fact, the late-March match-up between Argentina and Zambia is widely suspected to be Messi’s last game on home soil.

On May 19, Lionel Scaloni expressed an interest in keeping Messi as an active team member for as long as possible. Comparing Messi to the legendary Diego Maradona, Scaloni stated that he isn’t ready to imagine a World Cup without him.

Argentina’s Preliminary Squad Roster Features Emerging Talent

On a much more positive note for Argentina, its 55-player preliminary FIFA squad includes several emerging talents, such as Nico Paz, Matias Soule, and Alejandro Garnacho.

21-year-old Como attacking midfielder, Nico Paz, is considered one of the tournament’s most promising breakouts. Despite a late-season knee injury, he’s expected to make the final cut.

Chelsea’s Alejandro Garnacho has had an inconsistent domestic season, and his inclusion in the final 26-player roster isn’t guaranteed. But Garnacho maintains a direct attacking approach, a raw pace, and skill in beating one-on-one defenses that could make him a valuable addition.

22-year-old Matias Soule has dual citizenship with Italy and has only played for Argentina at the youth level. He also meets every FIFA requirement to switch to Italy’s team. His inclusion on Argentina’s preliminary roster affirms his commitment to staying with its senior squad.

Notable exclusions from Scaloni’s preliminary list include Paulo Dybala, Valentin Castellanos, and Angel Correa.