Argentine President Milei Won’t Attend the World Cup Final, Citing Superstition
Milei said he will keep his home viewing ritual and wear the same jacket as Argentina seeks its fourth World Cup title.
- Argentina President Javier Milei announced Thursday he will not attend Sunday's World Cup final in New Jersey, citing superstition instead of joining U.S. President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino as expected.
- Argentine presidents historically avoid high-stakes matches to prevent bringing bad luck, or "mufa," to their teams. This practice dates to 1990, when President Carlos Menem visited the squad before a stunning loss to Cameroon.
- In Argentina, ritualistic beliefs called "cábalas" carry unusual weight among fans who maintain specific routines during matches. Milei follows his own ritual, wearing an oil company-branded jacket during every game after the team won while he wore it.
- Milei will watch the match against Spain from Olivos, his presidential residence, where he has viewed the defending champion's previous seven tournament victories. He told radio station El Observador, "I'm going to keep watching all the games from Olivos."
- No sitting Argentine president has attended a national team match since Menem's 1990 visit, underscoring how deeply superstition shapes presidential behavior. Milei's decision prioritizes cultural caution over diplomatic expectations with Trump and Infantino.
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113 Articles
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US President Donald Trump will attend the final of the World Cup in New York. He will not meet his counterpart Javier Milei there, although his Argentinean will fight for the title.
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