BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Argentine President Javier Milei announced Thursday he will not attend the World Cup final due to superstition. Instead, Milei will watch the match between Spain and Argentina from home. This is where he has viewed Argentina’s previous seven victorious games in the tournament.

Milei is committed to helping his country’s soccer team clinch its second consecutive title by maintaining his rituals. He will wear the same heavy jacket, which he has donned throughout the tournament.

Fans and players worldwide hold onto superstitions they believe will bring good luck or bad fortune to opponents. In Argentina, these “cábalas” carry significant importance, reflecting the fervor with which people support their team.

When questioned about whether he would travel to New Jersey for Sunday’s game to watch with U.S. President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Milei firmly declined. “No way,” he stated. “I’m going to keep watching all the games from Olivos,” referring to his presidential residence.

Milei explained his decision was based on superstition. “Since it’s cold and I don’t turn on the heat, I wear an oil company-branded jacket,” he revealed. During a match against Switzerland, he removed the jacket due to heat, leading to a goal against Argentina. He immediately put it back on and hasn’t removed it since.

Argentines like Milei stick to the same routine if the team is winning. Some wear the same unwashed clothes during matches. Others remain in the same spot or avoid watching at all, relying on exact rituals.

In one instance, fans read from the Bible as Argentina started scoring against Egypt, repeating the ritual at every match. Some freeze figurines or paper with rival names in an attempt to impact opponent teams.

Argentine presidents have traditionally avoided attending high-risk World Cup matches, stemming from the 1990 tournament. Then-President Carlos Menem visited the team just before a surprising loss to Cameroon, earning the label of a “mufa,” or jinx. No sitting president has attended a match since.