Thousands of Argentine fans are expected to attend the World Cup final but President Cristina Kirchner will not be among them as she is sick with throat trouble.
Kirchner disclosed the news in a letter to Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.
Kirchner said in the letter that for a week she had been fighting pharyngolaryngitis -- inflammation of the pharynx and larynx.
The letter said Kirchner will meet Saturday with visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin and attend a summit of emerging powers next week in Brasilia.
But she will miss the final Sunday in Rio of the world's premiere sporting tournament, to which she had been invited by Rousseff.