AFA President Chiqui Tapia Stands Firm: “More Teams Means Investment in the Future”

During the final stretch of Matchday 13 in Argentina’s Apertura 2025, AFA president Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia reiterated his firm stance on maintaining a 30-team top division. In an interview with Pedro Rosemblat, Tapia defended the current league format and dismissed the idea of reducing the number of clubs, according to El Intransigente.

“This isn’t just about sports, it’s structural,” Tapia explained, pointing out that Argentina’s three World Cup titles—1978, 1986, and 2022—came with more than 20 teams in the local league. He also pushed back against frequent comparisons to Europe: “They play with 20 clubs over there, but they come here to buy the players we produce.”

Tapia emphasized the inclusive nature of the Argentine system, arguing that more clubs means more opportunities. With 30 teams, he noted, over 300 additional players are able to compete at the top level. “That’s an investment in the future,” he added.

As an example, Tapia referenced Central Córdoba’s historic win over Flamengo in the Copa Libertadores and criticized the tendency to downplay local successes. “Whenever an Argentine team wins in Brazil, people say the ref helped. We need to stop undervaluing our competitiveness.”

He also pointed to recent changes in global football, noting that the Champions League, the Club World Cup, and the 2030 World Cup are all expanding. “If they’re growing in numbers, why should we shrink?” Tapia asked.

The AFA head admitted that communication around the model may have been flawed, but insisted the decision was collective: “This isn’t just my choice. It’s discussed with club officials. Sports and commercial interests must go hand in hand.”