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Claudio Tapia
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Claudio Tapia

President of the Argentine Football Association.

Claudio Tapia has led the Argentine Football Association since March 2017 and has scheduled his meeting with head coach Lionel Scaloni over Scaloni's future for the 21 September-6 October international window, deferred from immediately after the 19 July World Cup final.

Last refreshed: 23 July 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

Claudio Tapia blames a failed neutral-venue search for the lost Finalissima; what's Spain's side of the story?

Timeline for Claudio Tapia

#46 20 Jul

Mentioned in: Scaloni will only commit to December

2026 FIFA World Cup
#45 20 Jul

Set a meeting with Scaloni for the 21 September to 6 October international window

2026 FIFA World Cup: Scaloni talks pushed to autumn window
#43 18 Jul

Rival accounts of the Finalissima that never happened

2026 FIFA World Cup
#44 18 Jul

Posted a message telling Argentina to stand tall after the defeat

2026 FIFA World Cup: Messi rules out 2030, says nothing else
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Background

Tapia has been AFA president since March 2017, having previously run Primera c club Barracas Central for close to two decades. He also chairs the Liga Profesional de Fútbol, Argentina's top-flight governing body, and has sat on the FIFA Council representing CONMEBOL since 2025.

His presidency has delivered four major men's trophies: the 2021 and 2024 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima, and the 2022 World Cup, a run that makes the association's recent standing hard to separate from his own.

The tenure has also drawn sustained controversy, including allegations of refereeing favouritism towards Barracas Central and a prolonged dispute with President Javier Milei's government over privately owned clubs. From mid-2026 Tapia has also faced US federal scrutiny of Sur Finanzas, an AFA sponsor Argentina's tax authority accuses of processing unjustified transactions; he has not been charged.

Common Questions

Reference

Who is Claudio Tapia?
President of the Argentine Football Association since March 2017, and a member of FIFA's Council representing CONMEBOL since 2025.
How long has Claudio Tapia been AFA president?
Since March 2017, having been re-elected in the years since.
What did Claudio Tapia say after Argentina lost the World Cup final?
He posted 'De pie, Argentina, con la cabeza en alto' (standing tall, heads held high); the AFA statement said the result was not enough to make Argentina two-time champions.Source: Lowdown
Why did the Argentina-Spain Finalissima never happen?
UEFA ruled out the planned Doha venue in March 2026 over regional conflict, and Argentina rejected the Bernabeu and a postponed Rome date as alternatives, according to AFA president Claudio Tapia.Source: Lowdown
Is Claudio Tapia under investigation in the US?
US federal authorities have been scrutinising Sur Finanzas, an AFA sponsor accused by Argentina's tax authority of unjustified transactions; Tapia has not been charged.Source: Lowdown
Who is the president of the Argentine Football Association?
Claudio Tapia, in the role since March 2017.Source: Lowdown