The World Cup win of Argentina in 2022 was truly historic. The team showed extreme determination to set aside the disappointment of the 2014 World Cup final loss, to become the best team in the world. The team showed incredible mentality and played some exceptional soccer. And with the win, the team finally ended the long wait of the Argentinians to win a World Cup, since 1986.
🗓️ 22.11.2022#ArgentinaNT pic.twitter.com/gpyc5u21PN
— Selección Argentina in English (@AFASeleccionEN) November 22, 2023
It has been one year since their World Cup campaign started, and they are still going strong. Argentina’s men’s National Soccer team is currently the highest-ranked team in the world. They are also top of their 2026 World Cup qualifiers group.
The players deserve all the credit, for their phenomenal performances. However, we cannot forget to acknowledge the contribution to this team. Their relentless work has transformed this team unbeatable. However, a shocking revelation made about the coaching staff has raised the eyebrows of soccer fans, across the globe.
Argentina National Team’s coaching staff is yet to receive its World Cup 2022 prize
According to ESPN Argentina, the Argentine FA is yet to send the coaching staff’s FIFA World Cup 2022 prize money, which has been pending since 2022. It has also come to light that the Argentine FA President, Claudio Tapia is the main man behind this mishap. Tapia is controversy’s favorite child. It is said that he altered Argentina’s victory parade against the Argentinian government’s wish.
While the original plan was to visit famous places of the capital, Buenos Aires such as the Obelisk and Casa Rosada, Tapia decided against it. It is also reported that Tapia was at constant odds with Argentinian President Alberto Fernandez. It is said that the President didn’t like Tapia.
Argentina received a total of $42 million for winning the World Cup in 2022. France, the runners-up of the same edition received $30 million. When France won the World Cup in 2018, it received around $38 million from a prize pool of $400 million. For the Qatar World Cup, the prize pool was increased to $440 million.
The prize money directly goes towards the respective federations. The jurisdiction of distributing this money comes under the federation, itself. Generally, it is the players that receive a special bonus for their achievements. But, in Argentina’s case, the coaching staff hasn’t received a single penny for their hard work, for one year now.
Lionel Scaloni offers some insights into his future
This is one of the reasons that Lionel Scaloni, is reconsidering his future as the coach of Argentina. He’s apparently very angry at the Argentine FA for their wrongdoings. He is also upset at the FA’s Lack of coordination in terms of logistics and assembly before games.
Another traditional picture between Rodrigo De Paul, Leo Messi and Claudio Tapia ✅🏆😎#Argentina #VamosArgentina pic.twitter.com/pf4ch4U8LP
— Sports Status (@sportsstatus24) November 16, 2023
The embezzlement of funds has upset him and his coaching staff, at a time where they are working best. Lionel Scaloni has left his future hanging, in a press conference after his team’s win against Brazil on Wednesday, he had this to say:
“I need to think a lot about what I’m going to do. This isn’t a goodbye or anything but I need to think because the bar is really high and it’s complicated to continue, is complicated to keep winning. Argentina needs a coach who has all the energy possible and who is well … I need to stop the ball and start thinking, I have a lot of things to think about during this time.”
He said that it’s very difficult to leave such wonderful players. Lionel Scaloni expressed his desire to consult the Argentine FA president and his players, before arriving at a decision. He is also very upset about the politics that happens in the Argentine FA, regarding the election of its President.
🚨🇦🇷 Cuti Romero on Scaloni’s future: “We are sure and hope that Scaloni will continue. Let’s see now he will have time to think…”.
“We will try to convince him”.
“He did not say anything in the locker room about that”
“For me, he will continue. Let’s see”. pic.twitter.com/78topGgrgR
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 22, 2023
Argentine fans are disgusted, with this mischief of their soccer federation. It is an insult to the hard labor of the Argentine coaching staff. They have made sure that the team plays tactically astute soccer while keeping the players away from injuries. The fans have demanded an independent investigation on this matter.