adminArgentina are facing accusations of attempted psychological warfare before their World Cup semifinal showdown with England, following reports that they made a special jersey request to tournament organizers FIFA.
Lionel Scaloni’s squad is set to meet England in Atlanta on Wednesday (July 15), with a spot in the final on the line.
The rivalry carries decades of baggage, including Diego Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God” moment, which powered Argentina to a 2–1 quarterfinal win over England in 1986. The Albiceleste also eliminated the Three Lions in 1998, after David Beckham was sent off for kicking out at Diego Simeone.
Notably, Argentina wore navy or dark blue—rather than their iconic blue-and-white stripes—in both of those victories over England. Now, it seems they’re hoping to repeat that formula.
According to Argentine journalist Gaston Edul, who has been covering the national team throughout the tournament, Argentina have asked FIFA for clearance to use their blue away strip. While the request hasn’t been greenlit yet, a final ruling is expected on Tuesday—less than 24 hours before kickoff.
Argentina have worn the blue kit only once so far in the 2026 World Cup, during their group-stage match against Jordan. Image credit: Getty
England, meanwhile, will wear their traditional white kit as the designated home side—meaning that even if FIFA rejects Argentina’s request, there would be no significant color clash with Argentina’s customary striped jersey.
Superstition runs deep in Argentina’s football culture
While no official explanation has been given for the request, many will link it to superstition—or what Argentinians call “cábala.” As the BBC has reported, the country is deeply immersed in lucky charms and pre-match rituals during the World Cup.
A survey even found that one in four Argentinians perform rituals to give their team a boost.
“Watching matches with the same people, sitting in the same seat, or wearing the same outfit throughout the tournament are all ways some Argentinians try to tip luck in their team’s favor,” the report adds.
Some of these customs date back to the 1978 World Cup, when players Tolo Gallego and Daniel Passarella would watch horror films before taking the pitch. In 1986, coach Carlos Salvador Bilardo insisted his players sit in fixed seats on the team bus to all games throughout the tournament.
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