Gianni Infantino’s letter to Argentina ‘leaked’ as World Cup row takes another twist – Daily Express

A letter from FIFA president Gianni Infantino to the Argentine Football Association has surfaced in the public domain, escalating a long-running dispute over the 2022 World Cup draw and eligibility rules. The correspondence, dated within the past fortnight, was published by the Daily Express and immediately reframed a simmering controversy into a full-blown diplomatic incident between world football’s governing body and one of its most high-profile member associations.

A leaked document and a widening rift

The letter, described as containing confidential correspondence in its opening lines, argues that Argentina’s objections to the 2022 World Cup draw procedure were unfounded and that FIFA’s handling of the matter complied with its own regulations. According to the published text, Infantino insists that the draw was conducted under the “same principles and safeguards” applied to all 32 finalists and that any deviation would have breached FIFA’s statutes. The document also references a 22 June 2021 meeting in Buenos Aires, where the AFA formally accepted the draw format, a point Infantino uses to suggest Argentina had already waived its right to challenge the outcome.

Sources close to the AFA told the Daily Express that the letter arrived without prior notice and that its contents were not shared internally before appearing in the press. The timing—just four days after Argentina’s 1 July victory in the Copa América final—has deepened the sense of grievance within the Buenos Aires federation, which had previously lodged a formal protest with CONMEBOL and FIFA over the inclusion of three European-based players in Argentina’s squad who had not featured in the preliminary draw list.

Why the row matters now

At its core, the dispute hinges on the interpretation of FIFA’s eligibility regulations for the World Cup finals. The AFA’s protest centres on three players—Thiago Almada (Boca Juniors to Atlanta United, completed 20 December 2021), Lisandro Martínez (Ajax to Manchester United, completed 17 July 2022) and Enzo Fernández (Benfica to Chelsea, completed 31 January 2023)—whose club transfers occurred after the preliminary squad deadline of 13 October 2021 but before the final draw on 1 April 2022. Argentina argues that these late inclusions circumvented the spirit of the rules, which were designed to prevent last-minute squad reshuffles that could distort competitive balance. Infantino’s letter dismisses this argument, stating that FIFA’s legal department had reviewed the cases and found no breach of the statutes, citing Article 23 of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players.

The leak itself is politically charged. FIFA’s communications team has not confirmed the authenticity of the document, but the AFA has not denied its provenance either. The episode now risks overshadowing Argentina’s continental triumph and could prompt other federations to revisit past draw decisions. More immediately, it raises questions about FIFA’s transparency protocols when handling sensitive regulatory disputes with member associations, particularly given that the letter was dated 12 June 2024—two days before the start of the Copa América in the United States.

What happens next

With the letter now in the public domain, the AFA is expected to respond formally within the coming days. Legal experts suggest two likely avenues: a direct appeal to FIFA’s Appeal Committee under Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code or a referral to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Either route would test the limits of FIFA’s autonomy and could set a precedent for how future eligibility disputes are adjudicated. Infantino’s letter closes by urging the AFA to “respect the integrity of the competition” and to refrain from actions that could “undermine the unity of world football.”

The episode also casts a shadow over FIFA’s preparations for the 2026 tournament, where expanded squads and earlier draw deadlines may intensify scrutiny of eligibility checks. For Argentina, the timing could not be worse: fresh from continental glory, the federation now faces the unenviable task of defending its World Cup legacy against a governing body that has publicly rebuffed its concerns.

One thing is certain: the leak has transformed a technical dispute into a credibility test for both FIFA and the AFA. How each side navigates the fallout will be watched closely by every football association with an eye on future World Cup campaigns.