Due to superstition, Argentine President Javier Milei has decided not to attend the 2026 World Cup final scheduled for next Sunday between Argentina and Spain at MetLife Stadium in the United States, preferring to watch the match from his residence.

In an interview with radio station 'El Observador' on Thursday, Milei said he will under no circumstances abandon his rituals that he considers to bring good luck, which consist of watching the Argentine national team's matches from the presidential residence in Olivos, as he has done throughout the tournament.

The Argentine president added, justifying his absence from the 2026 World Cup final in which his country's team is one of the participants: 'I will continue watching the matches from Olivos exactly as I did on the first day.'

When asked directly whether his decision not to attend his country's team's match stems from superstition, he answered clearly: 'Yes.'

Milei revealed details of his rituals, explaining that he wears a jacket from the state energy company YPF as a good luck charm during matches, and said: 'On the day of the Switzerland match, I felt very hot, and as soon as I took off the jacket, they scored a goal against us, so I put it back on and haven't taken it off since.'

Milei's decision contrasts with the Spanish stance, as the Royal Palace in Madrid confirmed on Wednesday that King Felipe VI will attend the final match at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford in the greater New York area, accompanied by Queen Letizia and their daughters Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia, to support the Spanish team in the historic final.