“Freezing” Kane…Argentine fans resort to superstitions before the England match

Argentina fans are leaving nothing to chance before their World Cup semi-final against England, as they put captain Harry Kane’s name in a freezer and faithfully repeat the ritual they believe brings the national team luck on the field.

These practices form part of Argentina’s ancient tradition known as “cabalas” – superstitions that fans believe can influence the team’s fortunes.

As Argentina, the defending champion, prepares to face England in order to reserve a place in the final, fans are sticking to the routine that they say helped achieve previous victories.
Many refuse to pronounce the names of competitors, wear the same shirts that are often unclean, sit in the same seats, and eat the same meals before every match, convinced that changing anything might bring misfortune to the team’s chances of lifting the cup again.

Ines Mutri (13 years old) said: “My friends and I have a certain weather. We write the name of the team star and goalkeeper on the same paper and put it in the freezer. “This time we will freeze Kane because he is the top scorer.”

In a country where football inspires an almost religious passion, fans say such rituals give them a sense of control over an outcome that ultimately remains beyond their influence.

These traditions are deeply rooted. Carlos Bilardo, the coach who led Argentina to win the World Cup in 1986, was famous for his complex superstitious beliefs, such as determining the order in which players enter the field, which helped cement the “Cabalas” in the folklore of Argentine football.

Even current coach Lionel Scaloni admitted his own ritual. He said during the tournament, “I enter the field with my right foot and make the sign of the cross.”

Some habits develop over time. During the current World Cup, fans shared AI-generated images on social media showing rival teams’ players frozen in blocks of ice, a symbolic way to prevent dangerous rivals from moving, scoring goals or blocking shots.

This idea extended to real life. Student Juan Pablo Calvo (18 years old) said that he plans to freeze Jude Bellingham’s name because he considers him a “wonderful player,” although he is still confident that Argentina will win.

This match renews one of the most famous rivalries in world football, starting with the “Hand of God” goal scored by Diego Armando Maradona in 1986 and leading to a series of unforgettable confrontations in the knockout rounds.

In the semi-final match, Calvo will wear a shirt similar to the shirt that Maradona wore in the 1986 World Cup, when Argentina lifted the cup.

Calvo said, “Although Messi has already won every trophy that can be won, this is a special opportunity because he has never faced England in a match like this before, let alone a semi-final.”
Other fans say that repetition is the most important “Kabbalah.” Once Argentina wins, every detail of that day must be recreated for the next match: the same people, the same seat, the same shirt and, if possible, the same meal.

Mutri watches the match with eight of her friends, who wear the same hats and sit in the same places at every match.

She said, “I feel that the England match will be nerve-wracking, like all other matches.” But it will be good. “It will be fun.”