England head coach Thomas Tuchel admitted he understood why Argentina chose to wear their dark blue jersey for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday, saying he would have made the same decision if superstitions had played a role.The defenders have swapped their blue and white stripes for the dark blue stripe that has become so associated with some of Argentina’s famous World Cup victories against England.Speaking ahead of the blockbuster clash in Atlanta, Tuchel acknowledged the importance of tradition and lucky charms in the top game. “I would have done the same if there were any beliefs involved,” Tuchel told reporters. “So kudos to them. I didn’t know that.”
Why the dark blue Argentina jersey is important
The dark blue kit holds a special place in the history of Argentine football.It was the jersey worn by Diego Maradona during Argentina’s 2-1 win over England in the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup, a game remembered for the famous “Hand of God” goal and a spectacular effort later dubbed the “Goal of the Century”.Argentina wore the same colors when they eliminated England on penalties after a 2-2 draw in the Round of 16 at the 1998 World Cup, another chapter in a tournament made up of drama and historic misunderstandings.
Tuchel explains his beliefs
Although Tuchel admitted he was unaware of the history of the jersey before it was announced, the England boss revealed that he was also a fan of the magical tradition.“I have my own magic tricks, I won’t tell you because some beliefs are that if I tell you it won’t work,” he said with a smile. “We have systems that keep you grounded and calm throughout the day, and that’s not going to change. Yes, we also have our lucky charms, and these things are rare in elite sports.”Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, however, rejected the idea that the idea was based on superstitions.“Well, I didn’t ask for the blue. I don’t know who did it, but maybe it’s a tradition,” Scaloni said. “I don’t know. I can’t talk about it.”Wednesday’s semifinal promises to be another memorable episode in the World Cup’s biggest competition. England, chasing their first World Cup final since 1966, face an Argentina team that has won all six of their matches in the tournament and arrived in Atlanta hoping that the famous blue-black jersey can boost their old rivals’ success.
