The Casa Rosada Order and the Passion for Football

On July 19, 2026, Argentina and Spain played the memorable World Cup final at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. However, prior to the match, an informal directive had been issued from the Casa Rosada—the seat of the Argentine executive branch—led by President Javier Milei and Secretary General Karina Milei: no libertarian officials were to travel to the tournament to avoid images associated with the privileges of the 'casta' (a political term used by Milei to describe the entrenched political elite).

The Journey of Bartolomé Abdala and Bruno Olivera

Despite the recommendation, the provisional president of the Senate and senator for San Luis, Bartolomé Abdala, along with La Libertad Avanza senator for San Juan, Bruno Olivera, decided to make the trip to the United States. Images of both at the airport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, quickly went viral on social media.

According to reports from outlets like La Politica Online, Abdala, in his desperation not to miss the decisive match, reportedly communicated with the Argentine consulate in New York to request a private plane or contact air taxi companies. Faced with a lack of availability, the senator took a commercial flight to Charlotte-Douglas, North Carolina, and from there completed an 870-kilometer car journey (about 9 hours) to reach the stadium.

The Cost of the World Cup and the Senator's Profile

This detail gains relevance due to the high costs of the journey. Attending the final implied an expense of around $10,000 USD in combined packages, while resale tickets exceeded $30,000 USD, a legal practice in the US. To provide context, starting in August, Abdala's salary as a senator will be around 7 million Argentine pesos net per month. His passion for football is well-known: between 2000 and 2018, he was a director of the Sanluiseña League and held positions in the AFA (Argentine Football Association).

Other Officials in the Spotlight

Abdala and Olivera were not the only ones to defy the directive. Days earlier, Deputy Minister of Justice, Santiago Viola, was also seen at a national team match. Although his ministry claimed he had requested leave, spokesperson Adrián Ravier confirmed there was a government commitment not to attend. Ultimately, Milei defended Viola, clarifying that the prohibition only applied to ministers.

These episodes, beyond the controversies, demonstrate that the passion for the Argentine national team and football transcends all strata of society, generating anecdotes that add to the rich history of the 2026 World Cup.

Sources consulted: La Politica Online, Diario de Cuyo, Nexofin, and MDZ.