Buenos Aires: Argentine President Javier Milei has decided not to attend the FIFA World Cup 2026 final between Argentina and Spain, citing superstition as the reason behind his decision. Instead of travelling to New Jersey for the highly anticipated title clash, Milei will watch the match from his home at the presidential residence in Olivos.
Milei revealed on Thursday that he would continue the routine he has followed throughout Argentina’s World Cup campaign. The defending champions have won all seven matches that he has watched from home, and the President believes maintaining the same conditions could bring luck to the national team.
When asked if he would attend the final alongside United States President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Milei responded firmly that he would not travel.
“No way. I’m going to keep watching all the games from Olivos,” he said during an interview with Buenos Aires-based radio station El Observador.
Argentina will face Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday, with Milei hoping his unusual match-day routine continues to bring success for the national side.
Milei’s jacket becomes part of Argentina’s winning ritual
Milei explained that his superstition is connected to a jacket he has worn during Argentina’s successful World Cup run.
The Argentine President said he has continued wearing the same oil company-branded jacket during matches after noticing a connection between the clothing item and the team’s results.
According to Milei, during Argentina’s match against Switzerland, he removed the jacket after feeling warm, and the opposition scored soon afterwards. After putting it back on, Argentina regained control, convincing him to keep wearing it for future games.
“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,” Milei said.
While such beliefs have no proven impact on sporting results, they are deeply connected with football culture in Argentina.
Argentina’s famous football superstitions
In Argentina, superstitions known as “cábalas” are common among supporters and players. Many fans believe maintaining a specific routine can help their team continue winning.
Some supporters wear the same clothes for every match during a tournament, avoid changing seats while watching games or repeat certain actions that they believe bring good fortune.
Others associate random moments with success. For example, some fans refuse to watch certain parts of matches if they believe their absence or presence affects the outcome.
During this World Cup, one widely shared incident involved supporters reading from the Bible when Argentina started scoring against Egypt. The fans then repeated the same ritual during subsequent matches, believing it helped the team perform better.
Some fans even follow rituals intended to negatively affect opponents, including symbolic actions involving the names or images of rival players.
For many Argentines, these traditions form part of the emotional experience of following the national team.
Argentina presidents and World Cup superstitions
Milei’s decision is also linked to a long-standing belief among Argentine football supporters that the presence of political leaders at major matches can bring bad luck.
The superstition became particularly famous after the 1990 FIFA World Cup, when then-President Carlos Menem visited the Argentina squad before their opening match against Cameroon.
Argentina suffered a shock 1-0 defeat in that game, leading some supporters to label Menem a “mufa” — a person believed to bring bad luck.
Since then, Argentine presidents have generally avoided attending crucial World Cup matches involving the national team.
Milei’s choice follows this tradition, with the President preferring to maintain the routine that has accompanied Argentina’s unbeaten run in the tournament.
Argentina aim for consecutive World Cup titles
Argentina enter the final with the opportunity to achieve back-to-back World Cup victories. The defending champions reached the title clash after a dramatic semifinal comeback against England.
Argentina defeated England 2-1 after falling behind, with Enzo Fernandez scoring the equaliser before Lautaro Martinez scored the stoppage-time winner. Lionel Messi played a decisive role by providing assists for both goals.
The victory extended Argentina’s impressive tournament campaign and secured another World Cup final appearance.
Spain, meanwhile, reached the final after defeating France 2-0 in the semifinal. The European side impressed throughout the competition with disciplined defending and attacking quality.
The final will decide whether Argentina continue their dominance or Spain claim their second World Cup trophy.
Conclusion
Javier Milei’s decision to avoid attending the FIFA World Cup final highlights the unique relationship between football and superstition in Argentina. While the President will not be present in the stadium, he hopes his familiar match-day routine helps Argentina secure another historic World Cup triumph.