Argentina President Javier Milei has claimed he is afraid of attending Sunday's FIFA World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where Argentina will face Spain, because of a superstition that his presence could cause the team to lose.
When asked on Thursday whether he would travel to the United States to watch the match alongside his close ally, US President Donald Trump, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Milei dismissed the idea.
"No way," he said.
"I’m going to keep watching all the games from Olivos," he told Buenos Aires radio station El Observador, referring to the presidential residence.
According to the Daily Mail, when a journalist asked whether he was staying home for superstitious reasons, Milei replied, "Yes," before explaining another of his match-day rituals.
"Since it's cold and I don't turn on the heat, I wear an oil company-branded jacket," he said.
"During the Switzerland game, I got really hot and took it off. They scored a goal against us. I put it back on and never took it off again."
Instead of travelling to New Jersey, the controversial right-wing libertarian—who famously brandished a chainsaw during his 2023 election campaign—will remain at home, where he has watched all seven of Argentina's matches at this tournament, all of which they have won.
In the hope of helping Argentina secure a second consecutive World Cup title, Milei said he will once again wear the same heavy jacket during Sunday's final.
Superstitions are common among football fans and players around the world, who often believe certain routines bring good luck to their teams or bad luck to their opponents.
In Latin America, particularly in Argentina, these rituals—known as cábalas—carry special significance and reflect the passion with which many people support the national team.
Like Milei, many Argentines stick to the exact same routine whenever the team is winning. Some wear the same clothes for every match, refusing to wash their jerseys throughout the tournament. Others watch games from the same seat every time, while some even avoid watching altogether if they believe their presence might bring bad luck.