Argentine President Javier Milei said on Thursday that he will not attend the World Cup final due to superstition, opting instead to watch Sunday’s clash between Spain and Argentina from home. He has viewed the defending champions’ previous seven matches in the tournament from there, all of which ended in victory.
To help his country’s beloved squad pursue a second consecutive title, Milei added that he will also wear the same heavy jacket he has relied on throughout the competition.
Supporters and players across the globe hold onto superstitions they believe can bring luck to their side or curse their opponents.
But in Latin America, and especially in Argentina, so-called “cábalas” — ritualistic beliefs and habits — carry unusual weight, reflecting the passion with which many follow the national team.
When asked Thursday whether he would travel to New Jersey for the match to join his close ally, U.S. President Trump, and FIFA president Gianni Infantino, as widely expected, Milei replied, “No way.”
“I’m going to keep watching all the games from Olivos,” he told Buenos Aires radio station El Observador, referring to the presidential residence.
Asked if he was staying home for superstitious reasons, Milei confirmed and described another of his rituals: “Since it’s cold and I don’t turn on the heat, I wear an oil company-branded jacket.
“The day of the Switzerland game, it made me really hot. I took it off, and they scored a goal against us. I put it back on and never took it off again.”
Like Milei, most Argentines observe cábalas that demand they repeat the exact same routine while the team is winning.
Some wear the same clothes for every match, refusing to wash their jerseys during the World Cup. Others watch from the same spot — or are banned from watching at all, such as those who happen to be in the bathroom when Argentina scores.
Minor actions take on great significance. In a widely shared video from this World Cup, a group of fans began reading from the Bible just as Argentina started scoring against Egypt, prompting them to repeat the ritual at every match since.
One common ritual intended to affect rival teams involves freezing figurines of players or papers bearing opponents’ names.
Argentine presidents have long avoided high-stakes World Cup matches for fear of jinxing their teams.
The belief traces back to the 1990 tournament, when then-President Carlos Menem visited the squad shortly before its shocking opening loss to Cameroon.
Menem was labeled a “mufa,” or jinx. No sitting Argentine president is known to have attended a national team match since.
