Aldi has temporarily removed its bestselling Argentinian Malbec wine from shelves in a lighthearted act of solidarity ahead of England's World Cup semi-final against Argentina on July 15, 2026. The budget supermarket replaced the wine with a sign reading: "We have removed our Argentinian Malbec from the shelves in solidarity ahead of the game tomorrow." The sign adds: "It's coming home!"
Social Media Reaction
Shoppers noticed the empty shelves and shared images on Instagram, where Aldi responded: "The only thing NOT coming home is your nice bottle of vino (soz x)." In the caption, Aldi added: "If this doesn't help us win, we don't know what will." The post has gone viral, amassing over 15,000 likes and hundreds of comments. One user commented: "Your creative team are brilliant!" Another wrote: "Now I respect Aldi even more." A third remarked: "Patriotism before Profit. Well done."
Official Statement
An Aldi spokesperson said: "Whether it's a tactical substitution or the ultimate superstition, the sign encourages shoppers to bench their usual Argentinian reds for alternative bottles to toast Thomas Tuchel's men tonight. Those looking to toast to England's success this evening can pick up any of Aldi's non-Argentinian wines in store now."
Match Details
The World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina kicks off at 8pm on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The BBC will broadcast live coverage starting at 7pm, with radio commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live from 6pm.
England manager Thomas Tuchel's side aims to reach the final on Sunday, July 19. Aldi encourages customers to drink responsibly, noting the UK Chief Medical Officers' advice of no more than 14 units per week.
