Argentina’s Lucky Candy Ritual Before the Big World Cup Match

Getting Ready for a Huge Game

Imagine your country’s soccer team (called the Selección Argentina, or Argentina’s national team) is about to play a super important match!

• They are playing against Switzerland (a country in Europe).
• This game is the quarter-final of the 2026 World Cup – that’s a giant tournament where the best teams from around the world compete to lift a shiny trophy called the Cup.
• The match is happening in a stadium in Kansas City (a city in the United States).

The team really wants to win and lift that trophy!

What Are "Cábalas"? (Lucky Superstitions)

In soccer, players sometimes do special little habits or rituals because they think it brings good luck. In Spanish, these are called cábalas (say: kah-bah-las). They are like lucky actions or routines.

Important Point: The Argentina team shows that these lucky rituals are still a big part of their path to dream about winning the World Cup!

The Candy Walking Ritual

Just a few minutes before the game starts, two players named Leandro Paredes and Rodrigo De Paul went out onto the green grass field to do a ritual that has become a classic for the team:

1. They stepped onto the soccer field (the césped, or grass).
2. They brought some candies (sweet treats like little sweets).
3. They shared the candies with each other.
4. They walked around the field while enjoying them.

This fun habit is something they repeat to keep their lucky streak going!

Other Stories From the Original Article

The original news page also mentioned a couple of related things you might find interesting:

• Black armbands for a tribute: Argentina will wear black armbands (a band on the arm) during the Switzerland match to honor Antonio Rattín. He was a famous old captain of the Boca Juniors club and the Argentina team, and he passed away on Saturday at 89 years old. The Argentine soccer group (AFA) asked FIFA (the big world soccer boss) for permission to do this. Also, there will be a one-minute quiet time (minute of silence) to remember a South African player named Jayden Adams who died.
• Possible team lineup: The coach, Lionel Scaloni, is deciding which players will start the game and is thinking about some changes as they aim to reach the "semis" (the next round after quarter-finals, called semi-finals).

A Note About Staying Updated

The original article also had a link inviting readers to join the WhatsApp channel of "El Liberal" (a news outlet) to always stay informed. (That’s just a way to get news on your phone.)

Summary

To sum up: Before their critical 2026 World Cup quarter-final against Switzerland, Argentina’s national team showed their love for lucky rituals by having players Paredes and De Paul share candies while walking the field. Meanwhile, the team also plans to honor a late historic captain with black armbands and a moment of silence, and the coach is finalizing the lineup. It’s all part of the exciting road to the Cup!

FAQ

Q1: What is a "cábala" in soccer?
A: It’s a superstition or lucky ritual players do, like sharing candies, because they believe it helps them win.

Q2: Who did the candy ritual for Argentina?
A: Two players, Leandro Paredes and Rodrigo De Paul, went out before the match and shared candies while walking on the grass.

Q3: What is the World Cup quarter-final?
A: The World Cup is a big tournament with many countries. The quarter-final is a round where 8 teams play to become 4; win and you’re in the semi-finals!

Q4: Why will Argentina wear black armbands?
A: To pay respect to Antonio Rattín, a legendary former captain who died at 89, and also to remember Jayden Adams with a minute of silence.

Q5: Who decides the team players?
A: The head coach, Lionel Scaloni, chooses the lineup and might make some changes for the match.