Argentina will face England in their World Cup semi-final wearing their blue away kit after FIFA granted their special request. The Albiceleste will don the same color they wore for their famous victories over the Three Lions in 1986 and 1998.
Kit Colors Confirmed
According to Argentinian outlet TN, the approval has sparked excitement among fans of the reigning world champions. Argentina's dark blue away kit has been worn only once in the 2026 tournament, during their group stage win over Jordan. England, meanwhile, will wear all white for the clash, as confirmed by FIFA.
England wore all white in their quarter-final against Norway and their round of 32 victory over DR Congo. However, they opted for white shirts and blue shorts against Mexico in the round of 16 to avoid clashing with the hosts' green shirts and white shorts.
Historical Context
The last time England and Argentina met in a World Cup knockout tie was in 1998, when both teams wore the same colors as now. That match ended in a 2-2 draw after extra time, with Argentina winning on penalties. Argentina also wore blue in their 1986 quarter-final victory over England, which featured Diego Maradona's famous 'Hand of God' and 'Goal of the Century'.
Lionel Scaloni's side wore their traditional blue and white home kit when they won the 2022 final in Qatar. However, those colors previously brought bad luck against England at the 1966 and 2002 World Cups.
Coincidences and Fan Excitement
The TN report highlights other coincidences that Argentina fans have latched onto. In both 1986 and 1998, Argentina won their group without losing a game, a feat they repeated in 2026 but not before the 1966 meeting. Additionally, a defender scored for Argentina in both 1986 and 1998 before facing England; this year, Lisandro Martinez and Cristian Romero have both found the net in knockout matches.
Other Semi-Final Kit Details
FIFA has also confirmed the colors for the first semi-final, to be played on Tuesday. France will wear blue shirts and white shorts, while Spain will wear white shirts and red shorts, a change for both teams after their quarter-final wins.
