The Sugus Ritual: How Paredes and De Paul Keep Argentina’s Luck Alive in Kansas City

As the Albiceleste gear up for their 2026 World Cup opener, a peculiar tradition involving Sugus sweets remains the team's most guarded locker-room superstition.

The Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City is thousands of miles from Buenos Aires, but the atmosphere inside the Argentine dressing room remains comfortingly familiar. Before the high-stakes debut against Algeria, all eyes were on the pitch, but the real story unfolded in the quiet moments before kickoff. Leandro Paredes and Rodrigo De Paul were spotted completing their customary ritual, a routine that has become synonymous with the team’s identity: the distribution of specific caramelos—or chewy candies—that the squad swears by.

For the uninitiated, this isn't just a snack break. The tradition is granular in its precision. As Leandro Paredes revealed in 2023, the superstition involves a rigid count and color-coded selection. He consistently picks seven Sugus candies—four blue and three yellow. This isn't a solo act; the team's kit men are fully integrated into the process, ensuring the stash is ready and waiting the moment the players step into the changing room.

A Ritual That Transcends the Pitch

The influence of these chewable charms has spread throughout the entire setup. Even head coach Lionel Scaloni has publicly embraced the habit, admitting that while he isn't one for pre-match music or heavy reading, the Sugus are non-negotiable. "When we get to the locker room, there’s a bag of candies. My favorite is the red one; I eat about 40 before the match starts," Scaloni once shared.

It is easy to dismiss this as mere superstition, but for a squad that has navigated the immense pressure of global tournaments, these small, repetitive habits serve a psychological purpose. By maintaining the same routine antes of every game, the players create a sense of continuity that survives title runs, final-match tension, and the inevitable churn of a professional career.

Why it matters: The Psychology of Consistency

In elite sports, the line between victory and defeat is often razor-thin, and teams frequently lean on "cábalas" to regain a sense of control in an unpredictable environment. For the Argentine team, this candy ritual acts as a communal anchor. It signifies that despite the massive expectations surrounding the 2026 World Cup and the changing landscape of international football, the core human elements of the "Scaloneta" remain untouched.

The spectacle of De Paul and Paredes walking onto the grass with their routine intact is a signal to the fans and the players alike: the foundation is solid. Whether or not it brings actual luck, the commitment to this habit reinforces the team's internal chemistry. As Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martínez lead the charge on the field, the quiet confidence provided by a handful of Sugus suggests that the Argentines are ready to compete, rituals and all.