Argentina President Milei to Miss World Cup Final Over Superstition
Argentine President Javier Milei will not attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup final in the United States because of a long-standing superstition surrounding the country’s leaders and the national team.
According to El Universal, Milei believes his presence at the stadium could bring bad luck to Argentina as they prepare to face Spain in the final.
Instead of travelling to the United States, the president will watch the match from his official residence in Olivos, where he has followed all of Argentina’s matches during the tournament.
Milei admitted that he also follows his own personal superstitions.
“Yes, it’s a superstition. I also always wear a jacket now because I took it off the day of the Switzerland game, and they scored a goal against us,” he said.
Many Argentines believe that the presence of the country’s president at major football matches can affect the team’s fortunes.
The belief dates back to the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy, when then-President Carlos Menem visited the Argentina squad before their opening match. Argentina went on to lose 1-0 to Cameroon, and many fans have linked that defeat to the president’s visit ever since.
Argentina will face Spain in the 2026 World Cup final on July 19 at New Jersey, with kick-off scheduled for 22:00 GMT+3.
Earlier on the same day, France and England will meet in the third-place match, which is set to kick off at 00:00 GMT+3.
Meanwhile, reports have also claimed that FIFA is looking into a political banner displayed by Argentina’s players after their semi-final victory over England.
