Key Takeaways
- Argentine football fans are relying on good luck rituals to calm nerves before Sunday’s World Cup final.
- President Javier Milei and ordinary citizens follow specific customs believed to bring good fortune.
- Sociologist Diego Murzi explains how such practices make Argentines feel more involved in the game.
BUENOS AIRES: As Argentina prepares for Sunday’s World Cup final against Spain, fans across the country are turning to age-old superstitions and rituals to ease their anxiety. The team's victory over England in Wednesday's semi-final has only heightened the anticipation and pressure.
In the working-class neighborhood of Liniers, 48-year-old accountant Andres Gonzalez is a self-proclaimed 'football addict' who adheres strictly to his own set of superstitions. ‘No one moves from the spot they occupied the last time,’ he told AFP, referring to a ‘cabala’ or ritual believed to bring good luck.
President Javier Milei also practices his own unique customs. Speaking to El Observador radio, he stated that under no circumstances would he break his habit of watching World Cup matches from the presidential residence. 'It’s something very present throughout the world of football,' sociologist Diego Murzi told AFP, explaining how such rituals make Argentines feel more involved in the game.
In Estela Vargas's house, match-day traditions are set in stone. Everyone wears the same clothes and sits in the same chair, while their English bulldog must stay outside. For Spain, rain or shine, the dog stays out, but for Argentina, a jersey is put on him to ensure good luck.
Graciela Campos's home has its own unique ritual: her mother-in-law leaves the room during matches and knits a blue-and-white scarf. 'In football, Argentines don’t feel like spectators but like protagonists,' Murzi said. 'Rituals are part of that—feeling involved by bringing good luck and warding off bad luck.'
Retiree Lidia Otero, who adores the national team as much as her beloved Boca Juniors, has her own specific gestures she performs before matches. These rituals work for her every time, she claims.
Such practices are not limited to individuals but extend throughout many of Buenos Aires's neighborhoods, which are decked out in blue and white. The excitement and frayed nerves come together as fans embrace these traditions, hoping they will bring the team good fortune.
'No one moves from the spot they occupied the last time,'
Andres Gonzalez, Accountant
'Under no circumstances' would Milei break his custom of watching World Cup matches from the presidential residence, he told El Observador radio.
Javier Milei, President
