Argentina president Javier Milei will not attend the 2026 World Cup final against Spain at MetLife Stadium in New York, citing deeply rooted football superstition as his reason for staying in Buenos Aires. The 55-year-old leader has watched all seven of Argentina's tournament victories from his official residence in Olivos, and fears that breaking this routine would jinx the team's bid for back-to-back World Cup titles.
Speaking to radio station El Observador, Milei revealed the extent of his superstitious practices. He has worn the same jacket—bearing the colours of an oil company—throughout the entire tournament. During Argentina's intense match against Switzerland, when he removed the jacket due to feeling hot, the team conceded an equaliser in their 1-1 draw. After putting it back on, Argentina won 3-1 after extra time, and Milei has not removed the jacket since. "No way. I will continue to watch all the matches from Olivos," he stated firmly, explaining that he keeps his residence cold to justify wearing the garment constantly.
A Tradition of Presidential Caution
Milei's decision reflects a long-standing Argentine political tradition rooted in the concept of mufa—the belief that a president's presence at a crucial match brings bad luck. This practice dates back to Carlos Menem's presidency during the 1990 World Cup, when his locker room visit preceded Argentina's shock opening defeat to Cameroon. Since that incident, no sitting Argentine president has attended a decisive national team fixture. The superstition has become so ingrained in political culture that Milei views his absence as essential to protecting La Albiceleste's winning streak.
Argentina enter the final undefeated across 14 consecutive victories in all competitions. Their opponents, Spain, have not lost in their last 17 outings, setting up a fierce contest. Lionel Messi, leading the tournament's scoring charts with eight goals, will spearhead Argentina's attack against a stubborn Spanish defence without presidential support inside the stadium. The reigning world champions must find a way to overcome La Roja's formidable defensive organisation if they are to claim their third World Cup crown.
