River Plate and AFA Tension: A Cold Reunion at the Superclásico Press Conference

On Friday, April 17, 2026, the presidents of River Plate and Boca Juniors appeared together in a joint press conference organized by the Liga Profesional de Fútbol, marking their first public appearance together since River officially announced its withdrawal from AFA meetings. The event took place ahead of the highly anticipated Superclásico match between the two Buenos Aires giants, scheduled for Sunday at Estadio Monumental.

Stefano Di Claudio Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), hosted the conference alongside River Plate president Stefano Di Carlo and Boca Juniors president Juan Román Riquelme. The three leaders sat together after fielding questions from world champion Argentine national team players Gonzalo Montiel and Leandro Paredes, who had addressed the media earlier in the session.

Di Carlo spoke first among the club presidents, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to participate in what he described as a historic and transcendental fixture. “I want to thank those present and the presidents. It is a historic match, transcendental like all Superclásicos. From our position, we aim to generate the conditions and the best possible environment for the match to unfold in the best way, as we all want,” he said, according to verified reports from the press conference.

Riquelme followed, emphasizing the unique nature of the rivalry regardless of venue. “Happiness, because the Superclásico is unique, whether in our house or theirs. Only that the people enjoy it a lot. You will witness good players from both sides. Hopefully we have the luck to enjoy it a lot. It is seen all over the world, which makes it the most important classic in the world, and we hope it will be a celebration. It’s football, may the better team win, and may we all be able to help,” he stated, completing his remarks with a call for unity and sporting excellence.

The joint appearance represented a significant moment in Argentine football, coming after River Plate’s public break with the AFA over governance and operational disagreements. Despite the institutional rift, the presidents demonstrated a shared commitment to ensuring the Superclásico proceeds under optimal conditions, focusing on player safety, match quality, and fan experience.

The Liga Profesional organized the conference as part of its standard pre-match protocol for high-profile fixtures, providing a platform for clubs and league officials to address logistical, security, and competitive matters ahead of the derby. The presence of both club presidents alongside the AFA chief signaled a temporary alignment of interests despite ongoing institutional tensions.

Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires will host the Superclásico on Sunday, April 19, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Local time (20:00 UTC). The match forms part of the Torneo Apertura competition and remains one of the most anticipated fixtures in world football due to the historical rivalry between River Plate and Boca Juniors.

As both clubs prepare for the encounter, attention remains focused on team selections, tactical approaches, and the potential impact of the recent institutional developments on player morale and fan engagement. The verified joint appearance of Di Carlo, Tapia, and Riquelme underscores the shared priority of preserving the integrity and spectacle of the Superclásico, even amid broader disagreements within Argentine football governance.

For continued updates on the Superclásico and related developments in Argentine football, fans are encouraged to follow official communications from the Liga Profesional, River Plate, and Boca Juniors through their verified channels.