Argentine President Javier Milei will not travel to the United States to attend the 2026 World Cup final in football against Spain on Sunday; instead, he will watch it on television as he has done since the start of the tournament, due to superstitions for good luck, according to an announcement on Thursday.

In response to a question from a journalist on radio "El Observador" on Thursday about whether he would travel to the United States, Javier Milei replied firmly: "No, not at all. I will continue watching the matches from Olivos (the presidential residence) as I have done since the first day."

When the journalist asked him if that was a 'cábala' (a superstitious ritual or habit believed to bring good luck), referring to rituals that Argentines consider very important and try to repeat, especially in football, so as not to break the streak of luck or victories, Milei replied succinctly: 'Yes.'

He later explained that he follows the matches of the 'Albiceleste' team in the cinema hall within the Olivos presidential residence, accompanied by his sister Karina, the Secretary General of the Presidency.

He also revealed another ritual he considers lucky during this edition of the World Cup: he will watch the match wearing a thick jacket from the oil company 'YPF,' which he wore during the Argentina-Switzerland match in the quarterfinals (3-1).

The president said: 'Since the weather was cold (as Argentina is currently experiencing winter in the southern hemisphere), and because I do not turn on the heating, I used the oil company jacket, and thanks to it I felt very warm on the day of the Switzerland match.'

He added: 'When I took it off, we conceded a goal, so I put it back on and have not taken it off since.'

Argentina won after a struggle against Switzerland 3-1 after extra time in the quarterfinals.

For his part, King Felipe VI of Spain will attend the final on Sunday in East Rutherford, a suburb of New York, according to the Spanish royal palace announcement on Wednesday, the day after the Spanish team's 2-0 victory over France in the semifinals. He will be accompanied by his wife Letizia and his daughters, Princesses Leonor and Sofia.

Donald Trump will also attend the final, according to the White House press secretary's announcement on Thursday.

Karoline Leavitt said during a press conference: 'His attendance will crown what has been the most watched, safest, and most successful World Cup tournament in the history of the United States.'

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) had announced in late June that the U.S. president would present the trophy at the end of the match at MetLife Stadium.