How Argentina’s Candy Ritual Survived the FIFA Show Before the Spain Final

The Story Behind Argentina’s Team Identity

Every final has its own story. But if there is one thing that makes the Argentina National Team special, it is that—besides playing great football—they built a strong identity based on:

• Unity (being together as one group)
• Customs (things they always do)
• Small superstitions, also called “cábalas” (lucky rituals)

This way of being started after they won the World Cup in Qatar 2022, and the final against Spain was no different. Within these habits, Rodrigo de Paul and Leandro Paredes are part of a long tradition: the classic warm-up with candies (sweets).

Arriving at the Stadium and the Emotional Message

Before the referee’s first whistle, the final was already felt strongly at MetLife Stadium. Thousands of fans filled the stands while the National Team followed their usual routine step by step.

• The Argentina group arrived at the stadium at 14:36 (Argentine time).
• Right away, they started their preparations.

Inside the stadium, there was a detail that moved the whole Argentina squad (team). In the locker room, they found a message that touched everyone. It said:

“Es Nuestra Bandera la que Defendemos. Mostremos al Mundo que Juntos Podemos. ARGENTINA”
(This means: “It is Our Flag that We Defend. Let’s Show the World that Together We Can. ARGENTINA”)

The sign was decorated with an image of the Virgen de Luján (a patron saint in Argentina). Every small detail was watched closely and felt like a good sign.

Important Point: The team’s routines, messages, and small rituals are not just fun—they help build team spirit and keep players calm before a big match.

A Problem: FIFA’s Big Show Blocked the Field

Not everything went as planned. One of the team’s best-known superstitions—led by De Paul and Paredes—was almost changed because of organizing issues.

While FIFA (the group that runs world football) was doing its pre-match closing ceremony with international artists, the playing field was full of a huge stage and decorations.

How De Paul and Paredes Kept Their Candy Ritual

The FIFA show made it hard for players to do their normal walk on the field before the game. For Argentina, this was not a small thing, because that moment is also when they repeat one of the most famous rituals of the Scaloneta (the nickname for this Argentina team under coach Scaloni): the candy ritual with Rodrigo and Leandro.

Because the field was occupied, De Paul and Paredes had to improvise. Here is what they did:

1. They could not use the center of the pitch.
2. They moved to one side of the field.
3. They did the candy tradition there.
4. They kept the habit that has stayed with them for years.

They had to “rebuscarse” (find a creative way) to keep the good vibes on the side of the Selección (the Spanish word for “National Team”).

In a match where every detail matters more because it is a final, the candy ritual had to happen somehow. The players of the Scaloneta agreed on this. So, even with problems from the event organization, they made it happen in their own way.

Important Point: Even when plans change, the players protected their lucky ritual by adapting—showing how much these customs mean to them.

Summary

The Argentina team is known for unity, customs, and small lucky rituals since winning in Qatar 2022. Before the Spain final at MetLife Stadium, they arrived early, found an emotional locker-room message, and faced a problem when FIFA’s ceremony blocked the field. Still, Rodrigo de Paul and Leandro Paredes kept their famous candy ritual by doing it on the side of the field. Their creativity kept the team’s spirit strong.

FAQ

1. What is the “Scaloneta”?
It is the friendly nickname for the Argentina National Team during the time coached by Lionel Scaloni.

2. What is the candy ritual?
It is a lucky habit where Rodrigo de Paul and Leandro Paredes warm up and share candies before the match as a team tradition.

3. Why was the ritual in danger?
FIFA’s pre-match ceremony with artists and a big stage occupied the field, so players could not do their normal field walk and ritual in the usual spot.

4. How did they solve it?
They improvised and performed the candy ritual on one side of the field instead of the center.

5. What did the locker-room message say?
“Es Nuestra Bandera la que Defendemos. Mostremos al Mundo que Juntos Podemos. ARGENTINA” (It is Our Flag that We Defend. Let’s Show the World that Together We Can. ARGENTINA), with an image of the Virgen de Luján.