Just days before the highly anticipated clash between Argentina and England, the Argentine Football Association surprised everyone by submitting a formal request to FIFA to play the match in its alternative blue jersey.
The request was ultimately accepted and is not merely an aesthetic matter; for many Argentine fans, that jersey is steeped in history and symbolizes some of the most memorable moments in world football.
It was in that kit that Diego Maradona scored the famous “Hand of God” and the “Goal of the Century” at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, eliminating England in one of the most iconic matches of all time. Years later, at France 1998, Argentina faced the English again in the blue jersey and once more advanced after winning in a penalty shootout.
By contrast, the last World Cup meeting between the two while wearing the traditional sky-blue-and-white jersey ended in a 1-0 defeat in Korea-Japan 2002, a result that marked the beginning of Argentina’s early elimination from that tournament.
Beyond superstitions, the current blue jersey also has a special meaning: it is inspired by porteño fileteado, a traditional artistic style born in Buenos Aires that decorates the numbers and shoulders of the uniform.