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Argentina’s President Javier Milei has disclosed that he will not attend the FIFA World Cup final against Spain at the MetLife Stadium, citing a long-standing football superstition as the reason behind his decision. The outspoken leader explained that his absence from the grand finale in New York stems from his desire to maintain the lucky routine that has accompanied Argentina’s run of victories so far.

Milei declines invitation to final

The Argentine head of state has decided to skip the 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain in New York, even as global leaders and FIFA officials prepare to fill the stands. Instead, Milei has chosen to remain in Buenos Aires to preserve his personal ritual, which he believes has brought good fortune. The 55-year-old president has avoided travelling to the United States so as not to disrupt Argentina’s winning momentum, having witnessed all seven of the team’s previous triumphs in the tournament from home.

President shares his ‘clothing curse’

Known for his eccentric habits, Milei admitted that his football-related superstitions extend beyond his viewing location. He revealed that he has worn the same jacket for every match throughout the campaign, except for a brief period during Argentina’s clash with Switzerland. During that game, Argentina conceded an equaliser to make it 1-1 before eventually winning 3-1 after extra time — a moment that, he says, only reinforced his belief in his ritual.

Speaking to local broadcaster El Observador, Milei stated, “No way. I will continue to watch all the matches from Olivos. Since it’s cold and I don’t turn on the heating, I wear a jacket with the colours of an oil company. On the day of the Switzerland match, I felt very hot, so I took it off — and we conceded a goal. I put it back on, and I haven’t taken it off since.”

Superstitious tradition among Argentine presidents

Milei’s caution is rooted in Argentina’s broader political tradition of presidential superstition surrounding major football events. The practice dates back to former president Carlos Menem’s unfortunate locker room visit during the 1990 World Cup, which coincided with Argentina’s shock defeat to Cameroon in their opening match. Since then, successive presidents have avoided attending decisive national team fixtures, fearing they might be labelled a ‘mufa’ — a jinx.

Argentina’s unbeaten run faces tough test

Heading into the final against Spain, Argentina carry an impressive streak of 14 consecutive victories across competitions. However, they face a formidable Spanish side that remains unbeaten in its last 17 matches. The contest promises to be a thrilling battle between two footballing powerhouses.

Star forward Lionel Messi, who currently leads the tournament’s scoring charts with eight goals alongside Kylian Mbappe, will aim to guide La Albiceleste to back-to-back World Cup titles — albeit without the president’s presence in the stands.