President Milei Opts Out of World Cup Final Due to Superstition
Argentine President Javier Milei has confirmed he will not travel to the United States for the 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain on Sunday, July 19. Instead, he will watch the match from his presidential residence in Olivos, maintaining a routine he has followed throughout the tournament. Milei announced the decision on Thursday, July 16, attributing it entirely to superstition.
Unbeaten Streak and Ritualistic Habits
According to The Athletic, Argentina have won all seven of their matches in the tournament, and Milei is unwilling to disrupt what has proven to be a winning formula. "No way. I'm going to keep watching all the games from Olivos," Milei said when asked about attending the final. The 55-year-old president also revealed he intends to wear the same heavy jacket he has worn throughout Argentina's campaign. He explained that removing the jacket during the Switzerland match had immediate consequences: "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."
Scaloni and Players Embrace Their Own Superstitions
Milei is not alone in his superstitious approach. Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has a long-standing ritual of stepping onto the pitch with his right foot first, a habit dating back to his playing days. "I've done it since I began playing football and I'll never stop doing it," Scaloni said. "It doesn't matter what the result of the game is." Several players also have pre-match routines. According to ESPN, Lionel Messi, midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, and Argentina Football Association president Claudio Tapia began posing for a group photograph before major matches in 2021, when Argentina ended a 28-year wait for the Copa America title by defeating Brazil. The trio have repeated the photo ritual ahead of the Finalissima against Italy in 2022 and the 2022 World Cup final against France, winning on both occasions.
Road to the Final and Upcoming Clash
Argentina reached the 2026 final after a 2-1 comeback victory over England on Wednesday. They will now face Spain, who beat France in their semi-final. The match is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium, where the defending champions will attempt to retain their title. In a related development, Legit.ng reported that Nimbus Pronos, a popular prediction feline, has predicted Spain's victory in the final. With both teams historically evenly matched, the final promises to be thrilling.
