England will wear their traditional all-white home kit for the World Cup 2026 semi-final against Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday evening. As the designated home team, the Three Lions stick with the familiar strip they have worn in all but one match this tournament.
Argentina Opt for Dark Blue Away Kit
Argentina, the reigning world champions, have chosen to wear their dark blue away kit instead of their usual light blue and white stripes. According to Argentine journalist Gaston Edu, the Argentine team themselves requested to wear that particular kit, although this has not been confirmed by FIFA or the Argentine Football Association (AFA). Argentina previously wore the dark blue kit in their 3-1 group stage win over Jordan.
Historical Significance of the Dark Blue Kit
The dark blue kit carries significant historical weight for Argentina. In the 1986 World Cup quarter-final against England, Diego Maradona wore a dark blue top and black shorts when he scored the infamous 'Hand of God' goal and later dribbled past five players to net one of the most iconic goals in football history. Argentina won that match 2-1, eliminating England. Twelve years later, at the 1998 World Cup, Argentina again wore their blue away kit as they beat England on penalties in the last 16, a match remembered for David Beckham's red card after kicking out at Diego Simeone. Simeone's son, Giuliano, is currently in Argentina's 2026 squad.
England's Kit Choices at the 2026 World Cup
England have worn their home white shirts in all matches except their final Group L game against Panama, where they wore red away shirts to avoid a clash with Panama's white kit. That solitary use of the red strip contrasts with Argentina, who have worn their home kit in all games except against Jordan.
Recent Meetings and Messi's Debut Against England
The two sides last met competitively at the 2002 World Cup in Japan, where England won 1-0 thanks to a penalty from Beckham, wearing red away shirts. Their last encounter was a friendly in Switzerland in 2005, which England won 3-2 with a Michael Owen double; Argentina wore their away kit that day. Lionel Messi, who made his Argentina debut three months earlier, did not feature due to suspension from a red card on his debut. Wednesday's game will be Messi's first appearance against England in his 206th international cap.
World Cup Final Implications
The winner of England vs Argentina will face Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday, July 19, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Spain defeated France 2-0 in the first semi-final. Messi currently leads the all-time World Cup goalscoring charts with 21 goals, two ahead of Kylian Mbappe, and both have scored eight goals at the 2026 tournament.
