Argentine superstition ramps up ahead of World Cup final

A Nation of Superstition

In Argentina, football is not just a sport, it's a way of life. And as the country prepares to face Spain in the World Cup final, fans are relying on good luck rituals to calm their nerves. From wearing the same clothes to freezing opponents' stickers, these superstitions are an integral part of the country's football culture.

For many Argentines, football is a matter of life and death. The country's passion for the sport is unmatched, and the World Cup final is a significant event that brings the nation together. But with great passion comes great anxiety, and fans are turning to superstition to cope with the pressure.

One of the most popular superstitions is the 'cabala', a ritual believed to bring good luck. This involves doing the same things every time the team plays, such as wearing the same clothes and sitting in the same chair. Even the dog must stay outside, and in one household, the family's English bulldog was even given an Argentina jersey to wear.

But it's not just the fans who are superstitious - even the team's coach, Lionel Scaloni, has been known to follow certain rituals. According to sociologist Diego Murzi, Scaloni is a 'man of science, but a superstitious person to an extreme degree'.

The sociologist recalled the story of a phone that rang in the locker room during Argentina's first match. A player picked it up, and no one answered. Bilardo saw that and, since Argentina won, before every match he would have someone call that phone, have the same player answer, and make sure no one responded.

Wild excitement and frayed nerves come together in many of the capital's neighborhoods, almost all of which are decked out in blue and white. 'All my rituals work every time,' said retiree Lidia Otero, who adores the national team just as much as her beloved Boca Juniors.

The 74-year-old walked AFP through the specific gestures and chants she hurls at the TV when the other team is in possession. In the first half of the semi-final against England, she said, 'the dog sat watching the TV and Argentina didn’t score'. 'You know what?' she continued. 'In the second half I turned her around, and that’s when the result turned around.'

Football legend Diego Maradona, who died in 2020, remains a figure of reverence in Argentina. Maradona's former home in the Villa Devoto neighborhood in Buenos Aires is the site of an altar to honor the beloved number 10. Nor has the age-old tradition of freezing Argentina's opponents faded. 'I grab the player's sticker and put it in the freezer. My grandpa taught me that,' said 11-year-old die-hard Messi fan Rodrigo Serna.

These wacky habits are no joke to those who practice them. '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.'

As the World Cup final approaches, it's clear that superstition will play a big role in the outcome. Whether it's wearing the same clothes or freezing opponents' stickers, these rituals are a key part of the country's football culture. And for fans, they're a way to cope with the pressure and bring good luck to the team.