Superstition keeps Argentine president from World Cup final

Argentine President Javier Milei will not attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup final in New Jersey due to long-standing football superstitions, opting instead to support the national team from his official residence, NBC reported.

During a broadcast on the radio station El Observador, hosts asked President Milei whether he would travel to MetLife Stadium for the Sunday match to watch the final alongside U.S. President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

The Argentine leader rejected the invitation, stating: "No way. I will continue to watch all matches from Quinta de Olivos."

Milei noted that every tournament fixture he has watched from the presidential residence has resulted in a victory for Argentina. To further safeguard the team's prospects against Spain, the president intends to wear the same heavy jacket he wore during Argentina's 3-1 quarterfinal victory over Switzerland.

The decision aligns with a decades-old political tradition in Buenos Aires aimed at avoiding mufa—or bad luck. The presidential avoidance of national team matches dates back to the 1990 World Cup, when then-President Carlos Menem visited the squad prior to their upset opening-match defeat to Cameroon. No sitting Argentine head of state has attended a national team match since.

Such rituals are common across Argentine football culture. Fans frequently maintain strict routines, including wearing unwashed jerseys for the duration of a tournament or watching games from identical vantage points. The 2026 tournament has generated new rituals, including a viral video of a supporter reading the Bible during extra time against Egypt; before the decisive winning goal, companions urged him, "Keep reading, don't stop!", establishing a routine repeated in subsequent matches.

Argentina will face Spain in the final on July 19 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, to determine the world champion. Meanwhile, England failed to qualify for the final and will face France in the third-place playoff.

By Tamilla Hasanova