Argentina make special request to FIFA days before England game with final decision expected on Tuesday

Argentina have been accused of trying to play mind games ahead of their World Cup semi-final clash against England after they reportedly submitted a special kit request to organisers FIFA.

Lionel Scaloni's side will face England in Atlanta on Wednesday (July 15) as both teams do battle for a place in the World Cup final.

This fixture has produced some memorable moments over the years, including Diego Maradona's infamous "Hand of God" goal that helped Argentina secure a 2-1 win over England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final.

La Albiceleste also knocked the Three Lions out of the tournament in 1998 after David Beckham was shown a red card for kicking out at Diego Simeone.

Interestingly, Argentina wore navy or dark blue instead of their traditional blue and white striped kit for both of those victories over England, and it appears they are attempting to rewrite history again.

According to Argentine journalist Gaston Edul, who has been covering the national team throughout this summer's tournament, Argentina have asked FIFA for permission to wear their blue away shirt.

The request has not been approved but a final decision is expected on Tuesday, less than 24 hours before their semi-final match.

Argentina have worn their blue away kit once during the 2026 World Cup campaign, against Jordan in the group stage. Image credit: Getty

England, meanwhile, will wear their traditional white kit after being designated as the home side.

Argentina have a long history when it comes to superstitions

There has been no official explanation for Argentina’s request to wear their away kit for Wednesday's game, yet some will associate the call with superstition, which is famously known as a 'Cábala' in Argentina.

As mentioned in a report by the BBC, the nation is known for its obsession with superstitions and rituals as they seek to bring their team good luck during the World Cup.

In fact, according to a survey, one in four Argentinians practices rituals to "help" the national team.

"Watching the game with the same group, sitting in the same armchair, wearing the same clothes throughout the tournament are ways in which some Argentinians try to make luck go their team's way," the report adds.

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Some traditions can be traced back to the 1978 World Cup, when Argentine players Tolo Gallego and Daniel Passarella watched horror movies before going out onto the pitch.

Eight years later, at the 1986 World Cup, coach Carlos Salvador Bilardo forced his Argentina players to sit in the same place on the team bus that transported them to games.