Argentina will take the field carrying a special memory in the second semifinal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup against England. In the big clash to be held at 1 a.m. Bangladesh time on Wednesday at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Lionel Scaloni’s side will play in their traditional alternate blue jersey, while England will be in their familiar white home kit. The jersey question was settled on Monday after a meeting of representatives of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), the English Football Association (FA) and FIFA.
The decision brings back the unforgettable memory of the 1986 Mexico World Cup. In the quarterfinal against England, Argentina also played in a blue jersey. It was in that match that Diego Maradona produced two of the most talked-about moments in football history — the “Hand of God” and the “Goal of the Century.”
So far at this World Cup, Argentina have used the alternate blue jersey only once. The current world champions wore it in their final group-stage match, when they beat Jordan 3-1. England, on the other hand, have played five of their six matches in their traditional white jersey. The Three Lions used a red jersey only against Panama in the group stage, a match they won 2-0.
This will be Argentina’s fourth blue-jersey match against England in World Cup history. The two sides previously met with Argentina in this color at the 1962, 1986 and 1998 World Cups, while at the 1966 and 2002 World Cups the Albiceleste played in their sky-blue-and-white home jersey.
Under FIFA’s competition regulations, the team on the upper side of the bracket in the knockout stage is treated as “Team A” and has priority in using the home jersey. This time England have that status, so to ensure sufficient contrast in jersey colors Argentina had to choose the blue kit. It now remains to be seen whether, as it did 40 years ago, the blue jersey once again becomes a symbol of good fortune for Argentina, or whether England write a new answer to that memory of history and secure a ticket to the final.
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