England suffered another World Cup defeat at the hands of Argentina 40 years after their famous meeting in 1986. After being eliminated in the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup in a match remembered for the infamous Hand of God, the Three Lions once again lost 2-1 to the South Americans and bowed out in the quarter-finals.
In 2026, the heartbreak was even greater. Thomas Tuchel’s side led the match until the 85th minute, when Enzo Fernández equalised with a long-range strike. Deep into stoppage time, Lautaro Martínez completed the comeback with a header.
And when it comes to Argentina at the World Cup, symbolism is never far away. La Albiceleste wore their dark blue and black alternate kit, reviving a superstition linked to their second world title, after receiving special permission from FIFA.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) requested authorisation from world football’s governing body to wear the dark blue alternate shirt instead of the traditional sky blue and white striped home kit.
The request carried strong symbolic meaning. The blue shirt recalls one of Argentina’s most memorable World Cup victories over England and has since become something of a lucky charm for the national team.
In the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup, wearing blue, Argentina defeated England 2-1 thanks to two goals that became defining moments in Diego Maradona’s career: the famous Hand of God goal and a stunning solo effort in which he dribbled past English players from midfield and defence before scoring.
Forty years later, England once again fell to Argentina. The difference this time, however, was that a place in the World Cup final was at stake — what would have been only the Europeans’ second appearance in a World Cup final.
