The reigning world champions secured their place in the last four with a convincing 3-1 victory over Switzerland, setting up a mouth-watering clash with the Three Lions, who booked their semi-final spot after edging Norway 2-1 in the quarter-finals.
According to reports, Argentina have asked FIFA for permission to wear their all-blue away kit instead of their iconic sky blue and white striped home shirt. A final decision on the request is expected on Tuesday.
Lionel Scaloni’s side have worn their traditional home strip in five of their six matches at the tournament so far. Their only departure came during the group stage, when they wore the all-blue change kit in a 3-1 win over Jordan.
While the request may simply be a practical solution, given that England are designated as the official “home” team for the semi-final, many believe there is a deeper historical significance behind the decision. In Argentina, football culture has long been intertwined with cábala—a tradition of superstitions and good-luck rituals that players and supporters alike often embrace.
The all-blue kit also carries fond World Cup memories against England. Argentina famously wore dark blue when they defeated England in the iconic 1986 quarter-final, a match remembered for Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal and his stunning solo effort later named the “Goal of the Century.” They also wore blue in their dramatic 1998 Round of 16 victory, which was decided by a penalty shootout after a thrilling 2-2 draw.
If FIFA approves the request on Tuesday, England are expected to wear their traditional all-white home kit when the two footballing giants meet in Wednesday’s highly anticipated semi-final.
