Infantino’s Letter to Tapia Raises Questions About FIFA’s Relationship With Argentina.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino sent a private letter to Argentine Football Association (AFA) president Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia following Argentina’s 1–0 defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. In the letter, dated July 20, Infantino congratulated Argentina for winning the silver medal and praised the team, Lionel Scaloni, the coaching and medical staff, and the supporters. He also described the team’s success as the result of “constant work, professionalism and attention to detail.” That particular praise has attracted attention because of the controversy surrounding Argentina after the final. FIFA was examining incidents involving Argentine players and staff, making the reference to “professionalism” appear, at least to some observers, rather awkward. My View For me, the issue is not that Infantino congratulated Argentina. A World Cup finalist deserves recognition, regardless of whether it wins the trophy. What concerns me is the perception of impartiality . FI...