President Javier Milei has canceled his trip to Washington for the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup next Friday, passing up the chance for a possible photo with football star Lionel Messi and a new meeting with his counterpart, Donald Trump. Although it was unclear whether Milei and Messi would cross paths—indeed, the Rosario native always tries his best to avoid contact with politicians—the president's decision has dashed the possibility of a photo with his 'football idol,' whom he often ranks above Diego Maradona in his preferences. Messi's attendance at the draw in Washington is also not officially confirmed. However, Argentina's national team coach, Lionel Scaloni, will be there in person for the draw. In turn, the President has missed another opportunity for a photo with his main international ally, Donald Trump, although the libertarian is scheduled to travel to the United States next March. Milei, for his part, decided to continue his confrontation with the controversial president of the AFA, Claudio 'Chiqui' Tapia, and canceled the trip to avoid crossing paths with the head of Argentine football. In this context, the president has been posting on social media, showing his support for Estudiantes de La Plata, the team heavily sanctioned by the AFA for not forming a guard of honor for the Rosario Central players. In fact, he posted a photo of the 'pincharrata' emblem, one of his idols, Carlos Bilardo, as he always describes himself as a 'bilardista'.
