Lionel Messi in the dark blue shirt against Jordan match (Photo: X)
Defending champions Argentina are preparing for another strong confrontation with England in the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup, but it will not be only Lionel Messi and his teammates who will attract attention when the match kicks off. When the two teams take to the pitch, Argentina will wear their dark blue away kit instead of the famous blue and white stripes, a decision that has sparked much debate among fans.While FIFA’s kit regulations are believed to be the main reason behind the change, many fans in Argentina see the choice as more than just a matter of color coordination. For them, the blue shirt carries memories of two of their country’s most famous World Cup victories over England.
Cabala is a religious philosophy Leading the Argentine ritual
The most famous goal came in the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup, when Diego Maradona led Argentina to a 2-1 victory with two unforgettable goals, one forever known as the “Hand of God” and the other widely considered the “Goal of the Century.”
Maradona and his teammates wore the navy blue kit that day, turning it into one of the most iconic shirts in football history.Twelve years later, Argentina faced England again in the World Cup, this time in the Round of 16 in 1998. Wearing the same blue shirt, they prevailed in a thrilling penalty shootout after a thrilling 2-2 draw, cementing the shirt’s association with success against the Three Lions.
These historic victories have been reinforced in the Argentine media that the team has specifically requested to wear the blue jersey again in the semi-finals on Wednesday, in the hope that history will repeat itself. This may be one of the reasons behind Argentina’s request, and it is no secret how important superstition or Kabbalah is in Argentine culture, especially when it comes to football.
However, there is another, more practical explanation.
FIFA generally prefers that teams wear their home kit whenever possible.
But when the competing teams’ colors do not provide enough contrast, the governing body can ask one of the teams to switch to an alternative strip. The policy also takes into account viewers with color vision deficiency, ensuring a clear distinction between the two teams by maintaining a light versus dark kit. Argentina wore the blue away jersey only once during the 2026 World Cup, in their 3-1 win over Jordan in the group stage.
Throughout the remainder of the tournament, Lionel Messi’s side featured in their traditional home colours.Interestingly, not every memory associated with the blue jersey is a happy one. Argentina wore the navy blue shirt in the 1990 and 2014 World Cup finals, losing to Germany on each occasion. By contrast, Messi finally lifted the World Cup in Qatar in 2022 wearing Argentina’s classic sky blue and white shirt.
