Argentina requests blue away kit vs England, citing lucky superstition

Argentina have opted to wear their dark blue away kit for the World Cup semi-final against England, a decision rooted in superstition and historical significance.

Why Have Argentina Chosen Their Away Kit Against England?

Argentina's choice to wear their alternate colours carries deep symbolic weight, reinforced by decades of memorable encounters between the two nations.

1. Maradona's Heroics (1986)

Argentina's dark blue kit first earned its "lucky" reputation during the infamous 1986 World Cup quarter-final in Mexico City. Wearing that colour scheme, Diego Maradona scored both his controversial 'Hand of God' goal and the spectacular 'Goal of the Century' to secure a 2-1 victory over England.

2. Last-Minute Market Dash

The 1986 kit itself was born out of crisis. The original away shirts provided by the team's sponsor were deemed too heavy for the sweltering Mexican heat. Coaching staff scrambled to a local market in Tepito to buy cheap, lightweight blue shirts. Maradona blessed the makeshift kit by stating: "With this, we'll beat England."

3. France '98 Quarter-Final

The superstitious belief in the blue kit was further validated during the 1998 World Cup in France, when the rivals met in the last 16. Sporting their dark blue shirts, Argentina beat a 10-man England side on penalties after a dramatic 2-2 draw — a match that featured Michael Owen's wonder goal and David Beckham's red card.

4. Contrasting Fortunes

Adding to the superstition is Argentina's historical struggle against England while wearing their traditional sky-blue and white home stripes. At both the 1966 and 2002 World Cups, they wore their primary kit against England and suffered painful defeats, leading some fans to believe the home shirt is cursed in this fixture.

5. 2026 Kit Request

For the 2026 semi-final in Atlanta, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) proactively requested that FIFA allow them to wear their dark blue alternate kit. Even though England is designated as the 'home' team, Argentina pushed for the swap to actively channel the positive energy and historical good fortune associated with the colour.

6. Tuchel's Acknowledgment

England boss Thomas Tuchel has publicly respected the psychological power of Argentina's decision. Tuchel admitted he would have done the same thing if a specific kit carried such rich historical weight, emphasising that routines and lucky charms are completely normal at the highest levels of sport.

READ MORE: Watch and listen to England v Argentina preview special of Make Football Great Again podcast

This article contains affiliate links. We will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

England's 2026 World Cup Kits

Various Prices — Kitbag Buy Now on Kitbag

England and Nike have launched the new home, away and goalkeeper kits to be worn at this summer's FIFA World Cup. Get free delivery on all orders with the code DEAL.

Follow the Mirror:

• Facebook
• X (Twitter)
• TikTok
• Instagram
• Snapchat