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Milei Skips World Cup Final Over Superstition After Argentina Beats Spain
President cites personal superstition as reason to skip the match while Argentina prepares to face Spain after its dramatic semi-final victory.
How we reported this
President Javier Milei has stated he will not travel to the World Cup final, attributing the decision to superstition.
The announcement comes days after Argentina advanced to the final with a 2-1 comeback win over England in Atlanta on July 15. Lautaro Martínez scored the 92nd-minute winner. Supporters gathered at the Obelisk in Buenos Aires to mark the result, waving flags and images of Lionel Messi with the trophy. The final pits the defending champions against Spain, whose coach Luis de la Fuente once taught Argentina’s Lionel Scaloni during a coaching course near Madrid.
Officials weigh in on banner and final
Outgoing UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called on FIFA to investigate after Argentine players displayed a banner reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” following the England match. Starmer described any potential action as a matter for the governing body. Milei’s decision not to attend the final adds another layer to the official response from Argentina’s leadership ahead of the title match.
The same source material notes a separate political development in which the Milei government postponed upper-house debate on a land-ownership reform bill after a dispute between Vice-President Victoria Villarruel and Senate chief Patricia Bullrich. That postponement marks the fourth delay for the measure, which would lift restrictions on foreign purchases of rural land.
Next steps for fans and government
Residents in Buenos Aires can follow the final through public broadcasts and street gatherings similar to those at the Obelisk this week. Government offices have given no indication of additional programming tied to the match, leaving supporters to organise their own viewings while the president remains in the capital.