Argentine President Javier Milei has officially announced that he will not travel to the United States to attend the 2026 World Cup Final between Argentina and Spain. This highly anticipated match is scheduled to take place this coming Sunday at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
In an interview with the radio station El Observador, Milei explained that he has watched all of Argentina’s previous seven World Cup matches from the presidential residence in Olivos. Given that all of those matches resulted in victories for the Albiceleste, he strictly intends to maintain this routine to avoid disrupting the team’s luck.
When directly asked if he would travel to attend the final alongside his close ally, U.S. President Donald Trump, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Milei responded firmly:
“Impossible. I will continue to watch the matches from Olivos, just as I have done since day one.”
Javier Milei’s World Cup Superstitions: The “YPF Jacket” Ritual
The Argentine President revealed a highly specific superstition he has strictly followed since Argentina’s quarter-final match against Switzerland. Milei insists on watching the games while wearing a heavy jacket from the state-owned energy company, YPF, as a good luck charm.
Milei explained the backstory of this ritual:
“During the match against Switzerland, I felt too warm and took the jacket off. At that exact moment, we conceded a goal. I immediately put it back on and haven’t taken it off during a match since.”
Donald Trump Confirmed to Attend the Final
While the Argentine President chooses to stay home for luck, the White House has officially confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump will attend the final match in person. The event marks the conclusion of the historic tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
As a reminder, the defending champions, led by superstar Lionel Messi and manager Lionel Scaloni, reached the final after a dramatic 2-1 victory over England. They will face Spain, who booked their ticket to the grand finale after defeating France.
