Tapia and Kicillof's Embrace in La Plata, Captured in a Significant Moment of the Day
Argentine Football Association (AFA) Moves to Transform Stadium, Secures Future Home
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has taken a significant step towards securing a permanent home for the national football team, with plans to transform the Estadio Único Diego Armando Maradona in La Plata.
The AFA's Executive Committee met at the stadium in December, marking the beginning of this ambitious project. The meeting, chaired by president Claudio Tapia, was attended by key figures from various football clubs, including Juan Román Riquelme (Boca), Diego Milito (Racing), Fabián Berlanga (Velez), Cristian Malaspina (Argentinos Juniors), Nicolás Russo (Lanus), and Ignacio Villarroel, River's second vice-president.
The AFA presented a Masterplan for the stadium's transformation, aiming to make it a reference for national football. The reform includes renovating the playing field, installing a roof, improving the lighting system, and conducting indoor infrastructure and connectivity works. The aim is for the stadium to be operational by late March 2026.
The AFA's move was a strategic one, aimed at protecting itself from potential intervention attempts and the advancement of the Anonymous Sports Societies. The change means that the AFA is no longer under the orbit of the General Inspection of Justice (IGJ), dependent on the Ministry of Justice of the Nation, but registered in the Provincial Directorate of Legal Persons of the Province of Buenos Aires.
The process began in December 2024 with a framework agreement between the AFA and the Buenos Aires government. This political alliance between Tapia and Buenos Aires Governor Axel Kicillof was further strengthened by the meeting, which also marked a congratulatory gesture from Tapia to Kicillof on his victory in the provincial legislative elections.
The AFA and the Province of Buenos Aires are working together to transform the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium into a true emblem of Argentine football. The stadium is expected to become the home of all Argentine football selections, including the possibility of the Lionel Scaloni selection playing friendly matches or games of a hypothetical Copa Argentina at the stadium.
However, the opinion of the footballers and the popular preference for the Monumental will have its own weight in deciding whether the Albiceleste will have a home of its own. The challenge is to meet the deadlines and make the stadium operational by late March 2026, while ensuring that it is equipped with modern infrastructure, including a roof, new lighting, and improved comfort for players, fans, and television transmission.
Notably, Alejandro Domínguez, president of Conmebol, toured the stadium with Tapia and Kicillof in July 2024, showing his support for the project. The AFA seeks to transform the Estadio Único Diego Armando Maradona into a true emblem of Argentine football, providing a fitting tribute to one of the greatest footballers in history.
