The Argentine Football Association (AFA) is expanding its commercial presence in India ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 through a new licensing partnership with Indian sports collectibles platform LEGXI, bringing officially licensed memorabilia signed by Argentina’s World Cup-winning stars to one of football’s fastest-growing fan markets.
The collaboration marks LEGXI’s first international licensing agreement and will see the launch of the exclusive “AFA Edition” collection on June 11. The range will feature limited-edition, hand-signed collectibles from members of Argentina’s 2022 FIFA World Cup-winning squad, including Lionel Messi, Emiliano Martínez, Julián Álvarez, Enzo Fernández, Lautaro Martínez and Rodrigo De Paul.
The launch comes as Argentina prepares to defend its world title at the FIFA World Cup 2026, creating a timely opportunity for AFA to deepen fan engagement and unlock new commercial opportunities in a market where football fandom continues to grow rapidly.
The collection will span eight categories of memorabilia, with each piece individually hand-signed and authenticated. LEGXI said the initiative is designed to offer Indian supporters direct access to officially licensed collectibles connected to some of the most iconic moments in modern football history.
Indian cricketer Arshdeep Singh, an investor and partner in LEGXI, said, “I connected with LEGXI’s vision from the very beginning. What impressed me most was the way the team was building a genuine community for sports collectors. Back then, the vision was big; today, seeing LEGXI partner with AFA and grow at this pace feels a bit surreal. The ambition, speed and authenticity with which the team is building is exciting to watch. They understand sports fans , their emotions, memories and moments they want to collect and thankfully, they are taking the brand ahead faster than some of my batting innings. Happy to be part of a platform that is building something truly meaningful for sports culture in India and beyond.”
Leandro Petersen, Chief Commercial Officer, Argentine Football Association (AFA), added, “India is home to one of the world’s most passionate and rapidly growing sports fan communities, and we see immense potential in the market for authentic fan engagement experiences. LEGXI, founded by sports enthusiasts themselves, brings a strong understanding of fan culture and the growing demand for authentic sports collectibles in India. Through this collaboration, we look forward to creating deeper connections with Indian fans by bringing them closer to the legacy, passion and iconic moments of Argentine football through officially licensed pieces”.
Founded in 2025, LEGXI is positioning itself at the forefront of India’s emerging sports collectibles industry, a segment that remains relatively underdeveloped despite growing consumer interest across football, cricket and other major sports. The company is also developing digital ownership verification solutions aimed at enhancing authenticity and transparency within the memorabilia ecosystem.
For AFA, the partnership represents another step in its broader international expansion strategy, leveraging licensed merchandise and fan engagement initiatives to strengthen its global footprint beyond traditional sponsorship and media rights revenues. For Indian football fans, it offers a rare opportunity to own authenticated pieces linked to the reigning world champions as excitement builds towards football’s biggest tournament in 2026.
