Milei Skips World Cup Draw Amid Football Federation Dispute

BUENOS AIRES (AP) – Argentine President Javier Milei has opted out of attending teh highly anticipated 2026 World Cup draw in Washington D.C. This decision comes amidst a brewing storm of tension between the president’s administration and the leadership of the Argentine Soccer Association (AFA).

The confirmation of Milei’s absence was delivered by his chief of staff, Manuel Adorni, via a social media post on Thursday. While the exact reasons for Milei’s no-show were not explicitly stated, the timing is meaningful, given the ongoing friction.

The draw, scheduled to take place at the prestigious John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts, will determine the group stage matchups for the tournament set to kick off on June 11 and conclude on July 19 across the United States, mexico, and Canada.argentina enters the competition as the reigning champion, adding an extra layer of importance to the proceedings.

Milei’s presence in Washington would have inevitably put him in the same space as Claudio Tapia, the president of the AFA. The two have been locked in a public dispute, primarily centered on Milei’s push to allow sports corporations (SAD) to operate within Argentine soccer. Currently, clubs function as non-profit civil associations, a model Milei aims to change.

Upon taking office in 2023, Milei enacted a decree that would permit clubs to transition into SADs. Though, the AFA swiftly challenged this measure through legal channels, successfully nullifying the presidential decree.

Adding fuel to the fire, Milei recently used a meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar to publicly align himself with Estudiantes de la Plata. This club has emerged as a symbol of defiance against the AFA’s current leadership. Milei was pictured in his office with an estudiantes jersey draped over his presidential chair during Sa’ar’s visit.

The president has been vocal in his support for the la Plata club’s stance against the AFA’s controversial decision to recognize Rosario Central as the champion of the 2025 League. This title,conceived just last week,is awarded to the club accumulating the most points throughout the year.

Estudiantes, under the leadership of former football star Juan Sebastián verón, was the sole team to publicly oppose this new championship format. The club alleged that the measure was not subjected to the required voting process, as stipulated by regulations.

In a striking display of solidarity, Estudiantes players turned their backs on the newly crowned champions during the traditional pre-match guard of honor when the two teams faced each othre on Sunday in the league’s round of 16. This unprecedented gesture in Argentine football was followed by a 1-0 victory for Estudiantes, securing their place in the quarterfinals.

In response to the players’ protest, the AFA imposed a two-game suspension on the 11 Estudiantes starters involved in the act, which they will serve in the Apertura 2026 tournament.Additionally, the club itself faced a six-game suspension. Verón, the club’s president, was also disqualified from any football-related activity for six months.

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