BUENOS AIRES, July 17 (Bernama-dpa) — Argentina’s Präsident Javier Milei will not attend Sunday’s World Cup final between his country’s team and Spain for superstition reasons, German Press Agency (dpa) reported.
Asked by radio station El Observador whether he would travel to the United States for the big match in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Milei said: “No, definitely not.”
Milei said he would follow the final like the previous games from home and confirmed that this was part of a personal routine to bring the Albiceleste good luck.
This also includes wearing the same jacket. Milei said he took it off during the quarter-final against Switzerland “and we conceded a goal. I put it on again and have not taken it off since then”.
Known as Cábalas, superstition rituals are part of Argentina’s football culture for many fans. They often watch matches from the same place or wear the same clothes.
Milei said that he would make the presidential palace, the Casa Rosada, available for the team if they win on Sunday for back-to-back titles.
“I will completely step aside. I have no place in this picture,” Milei said, adding that politicians should not appropriate this Argentine celebration.
— BERNAMA-dpa