ATLANTA, July 15 (Reuters) — Rodrigo De Paul and Leandro Paredes walked onto the pitch at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, faces cold, sharing a single hard caramel. The ritual, known as the “cábala de los caramelos,” preceded Argentina’s World Cup semifinal victory over England. It is the defining superstition of Lionel Scaloni’s era.
The act is deliberate. De Paul and Paredes take a few minutes before kickoff, exchanging a piece of candy with stoic expressions. “Fría y seria,” as DeporTV described it. A moment of calm before the storm, not a celebration.
This tradition dates back to the 2022 World Cup. Diario Huarpe notes it is “one of the most characteristic images of the Scaloni era.” In Atlanta, they “fulfilled” it again, reinforcing its consistency. The long-tail query “De Paul y Paredes cumplieron otra vez la cábala de los caramelos en el Mundial” finds its answer: yes, they did.
De Paul was a substitute for this match. The ritual still happened. He and Paredes walked onto the field, cameras capturing the moment. América TV reported that “miles de hinchas vibraron” (thousands of fans vibrated). The psychological edge: a superstition that kept the team focused against a tough opponent like England.
Psychologically, sharing a candy creates unity and stress relief. For De Paul and Paredes, it reinforces their midfield partnership—calm, trust, shared purpose. The “curious” nature, as América TV put it, sparked global curiosity. Social media clips flooded Twitter and Instagram. Argentine outlets covered it as a key pre-match story.
Will the ritual continue in the final? Superstitions intensify in knockout stages. The “cábala de caramelos fría y seria” from DeporTV is a hallmark of their approach. Whether this secret weapon is unlocked again remains to be seen.
A cold candy ritual, seemingly trivial, became a defining pre-match moment for Argentina. In high-pressure tournaments, these small habits build team chemistry and mental fortitude. Watch for it in the final.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: What is the ‘cábala de los caramelos’ ritual between De Paul and Paredes?
- A: It is a pre-match superstition where Rodrigo De Paul and Leandro Paredes share a single hard caramel with stoic, cold expressions before kickoff, symbolizing calm and unity.
- Q: When did De Paul and Paredes start this candy tradition?
- A: The tradition dates back to the 2022 World Cup and has become a defining image of Lionel Scaloni’s era.
- Q: Did De Paul and Paredes perform the ritual in the World Cup semifinal against England?
- A: Yes, they fulfilled the ritual again before the match, even though De Paul was a substitute, reinforcing its consistent psychological importance.
Extended Reading
For further context, the ritual was documented by Diario Huarpe (July 15, 2026), América TV (July 15, 2026), and DeporTV (July 18, 2026). The core sources detail the pre-match scene and fan reactions.