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Argentina's President avoids World Cup final due to superstition

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

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  • Argentina's President Javier Milei will watch the World Cup final at home due to superstition, not traveling to the U.S. to support the team's bid for a second consecutive title.
  • Milei has watched all of Argentina's matches at home this tournament, with the team winning each time.
  • This tradition of presidents avoiding key matches to prevent bad luck dates back to the 1990 World Cup.

Argentine President Javier Milei announced he will not travel to the United States to watch the World Cup final, opting instead to watch the match between Spain and Argentina from home. The president cited superstition as the reason for his decision, as he believes his presence at home has brought good fortune to the national team.

Never.

— Javier MileiPresident Milei responded with a definitive 'Never' when asked if he would travel to the U.S. to watch the final.

Milei has followed this ritual throughout the tournament, watching all seven of Argentina's previous matches from his residence. The team has secured victories in every game he has watched from home. He revealed that he also has a specific superstition regarding his attire during matches, wearing a particular brand of jacket without the heating on, and only putting it back on if the team concedes a goal.

This avoidance of attending crucial national team games by presidents to ward off bad luck is a long-standing tradition in Argentina. The superstition is often referred to as "cábalas," a term for superstitious rituals and habits prevalent in Latin America, particularly Argentina, reflecting the deep engagement of the populace with their national team's performance.

Yes.

— Javier MileiMilei confirmed that superstition was the reason he would watch the final at home.

The practice dates back to the 1990 World Cup, when then-President Carlos Menem visited the team before their opening match against Cameroon, which Argentina lost. Menem was subsequently labeled "mufa," meaning someone who brings bad luck. Since then, no sitting Argentine president has been known to attend a national team match in person.

The Framers of the Fourteenth Amendment extended that promise to 'every free-born person in this land.'

— Carlos MenemThe former president was associated with the superstition of bringing bad luck after a World Cup loss.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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