On 16/7, responding to the press about attending the match in the United States with US President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Mr. Milei replied, "No."

He stated he would continue to wear his familiar jacket and watch the match on television at home "because the national team has won seven consecutive matches" by doing so. Sharing on El Observador radio, he explained, "I will watch the matches at the Olivos residence and keep my jacket on because I once saw Switzerland score the moment I took off my clothing due to the heat."

President Javier Milei in Rosario, Argentina on 20/6/2024. *Photo: Farid Dumat Kelzi/AP*.

Mr. Milei's decision reflects the culture of "cabalas"—a term referring to rituals believed to bring good luck in Argentine football.

Football fans in the country always adhere to "cabalas" whenever their national team plays. Supporters choose to wear a specific outfit, refuse to wash their clothing throughout the tournament, or only sit in one unique spot to watch the game. If the home team scores while a fan is in the bathroom, that person will remain there for the rest of the match.

Many other actions also carry spiritual significance. One video captured a group of supporters reading the Bible precisely when Argentina scored against Egypt in the round of 16. This group decided to repeat the action in subsequent matches. Argentines also have a custom of putting player figurines or slips of paper with opponent players' names into the freezer, hoping to diminish the opponent's strength.

Historically, several Argentine presidents have been cautious about attending World Cup matches to avoid creating bad omens. The origin of this practice dates back to 1990, when former President Carlos Menem visited the national team just before their loss to Cameroon. This event led the public to label him with the nickname "mufa" (a person who brings bad luck).

Minh Phuong (According to ESPN, NDTV)