Viviana Juricka, the wife of 1986 World Cup champion Carlos “Chino” Tapia, died Friday after a prolonged battle with a brain tumor, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) confirmed.
The AFA announced Juricka’s passing on social media, expressing condolences to Tapia and his family. “The Argentine Football Association accompanies in this difficult moment the World Champion, Carlos Tapia, for the passing of his wife, Viviana Juricka. Much strength to the whole family,” the AFA stated on its official X account.
Tapia publicly revealed his wife’s illness in July 2023, during an appearance on the Telefe reality show La Voz, where his daughter, Clara Tapia, was a contestant. He explained that Juricka was undergoing treatment for a brain tumor and was unable to attend the show due to her health. “She has a brain tumor and is in the process of recovery,” Tapia said at the time, according to reporting by Clarín.
Clara Tapia had previously earned praise from the show’s judges with her performance of Olivia Rodrigo’s “All I Want.” Her participation on the show brought her mother’s condition into the public eye.
In a recent post on Instagram, Tapia wrote, “Thank you life for all these years together, for the family we formed. I will always remember you. I love you,” as reported by TN.com.ar.
The diagnosis was described as a grade four brain tumor, the most aggressive type, according to Infobae. Prior to her death, Clara Tapia shared updates on her mother’s condition on social media, including a video of her holding her mother’s hand in a hospital garden, accompanied by a biblical verse.
Tapia, a midfielder known for his powerful free kicks, began his professional career with River Plate in 1981 and also played for Boca Juniors, among other Argentine clubs. He was a key member of the Argentine national team that won the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
