Argentina defenders are preparing for another showdown with England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal, but it won’t be just that. Lionel Messi and get the company’s attention in the first place. As two of football’s heavyweights take to the field, Argentina will be wearing their dark blue kits instead of the familiar blue and white stripes, a decision that has sparked much debate among fans.Although FIFA’s kit rules are believed to be the main reason for the change, many supporters in Argentina see the decision as more than just a racial slur. For them, the blue jersey commemorates two famous World Cup victories for England.
Kabala they run Argentine customs
The most notable came in the quarter final of the 1986 World Cup, where Diego Maradona he inspired Argentina to a 2-1 victory with two memorable goals, one known as the “Hand of God” and the other as the “Goal of the Century.” Maradona and his teammates wore dark blue kits that day, turning it into one of the most iconic jerseys in football history.Twelve years later, Argentina met England again in the World Cup, this time in the 1998 Round of 16. Wearing the same blue shirt, they won in a stunning penalty shootout after an exciting 2-2 draw, reconfirming the jersey tie and victory for the Three Lions.This great success has inspired the Argentine media that the team has asked to wear the blue strip again in the final match on Wednesday, hoping that history can repeat itself. This may be one of the reasons why Argentina asked for it, and it is not hidden that beliefs, or cábala, are important in Argentine culture, especially in the field of football.
However, there are other useful explanations.
FIFA generally prefers teams to wear their original kits whenever possible. But when the types of competing groups are not sufficiently differentiated, the governing body may require one side to switch to another line. The process also takes into account color vision-impaired viewers, ensuring that there is a clear difference between the two groups while maintaining a combination of light versus dark. Argentina wore the blue kit only once in the 2026 World Cup, in their 3-1 group stage victory over Jordan. In all competitions, Lionel Messi’s team have been appearing in their classic colors.Interestingly, not every memory associated with the blue shirt is a happy one. Argentina wore the dark blue kit in both the 1990 and 2014 FIFA World Cup, losing to Germany each time. In contrast, Messi lifted the World Cup trophy in Qatar in 2022 wearing Argentina’s blue and white jersey.
