Overview
- AFA president Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia attended a tribute to conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Mar-a-Lago shortly after the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington, D.C.
- Tapia posted photos on X, called it an honor to be there, and publicly thanked Félix Lasarte, identified in reports as an advisor to the U.S. Intelligence Commission within the Trump administration.
- Multiple Argentine outlets report that conversations at the dinner produced an invitation for Tapia to meet President Donald Trump at the White House before the World Cup, though no official confirmation has been issued.
- The Mar-a-Lago appearance unfolded as Argentine officials and allied media stepped up criticism of the AFA over recent decisions such as recognizing Rosario Central and sanctioning Estudiantes.
- Analysts in the local press describe Tapia’s U.S. engagements with officials and business figures as informal diplomacy positioning the AFA as a potential interlocutor in a politically sensitive moment.