England World Cup semi-final kit confirmed after 'special' Argentina request | OneFootball

Defending champions looking to draw inspiration from past glories in famous fixture

England are set to play in all-white kits when they face Argentina in the World Cup 2026 semi-finals tonight.

As the designated ‘home’ team, the Three Lions will wear their familiar home shirts.

Thomas Tuchel’s side have worn their home shirts in all of their matches at the 2026 World Cup so far, bar their final Group L game against Panama, when they donned their red change strips against a team who also wear white.

Argentina, similarly, have worn their traditional light blue and white-striped home shirts in all their games, bar the 3-1 group stage win over Jordan.

Solitary use: England have worn their red away shirts just once at the World Cup so far

The reigning world champions might have been expected to continue that theme tonight, though it has now been confirmed that Argentina will don their dark blue away kits instead.

According to Argentine journalist Gaston Edu, Argentina themselves requested to wear that kit in particular. That remains unconfirmed by both FIFA and the Argentine Football Association (AFA).

The darker kit will mirror wins over England in the past.

Feeling blue: Lionel Messi in Argentina’s current away kit against Jordan

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Diego Maradona, wearing a dark blue top and black shorts, scored his famous ‘Hand of God’ goal to open the scoring against England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals in Mexico City.

Five minutes later, he dribbled past five players to score one of the most iconic goals of all-time.

Argentina won 2-1 that day, eliminating the Three Lions. They did so again 12 years later, beating England on penalties in the last 16 at the 1998 World Cup.

They also wore their blue away kit that day as David Beckham was sent off for kicking out at Diego Simeone. Giuliano - Simeone’s son - is in Argentina’s 2026 squad.

Their most recent competitive meeting was at the 2002 World Cup in Japan, when the Three Lions beat Argentina 1-0 in the group stage thanks to Beckham’s cathartic penalty, playing in their red away shirts as Argentina wore their striped home kits.

The two rivals last played each other in a friendly in Switzerland in 2005. England emerged victorious thanks to a Michael Owen double in a 3-2 win. Argentina wore their away kits that day.

Hand of God: Diego Maradona’s controversial goal in 1986 against England

Bongarts/Getty Images

Lionel Messi did not feature in that game despite making his international debut three months earlier against Hungary. A red card on his debut saw him suspended for the England clash.

That means Wednesday evening’s game in Atlanta will be Messi’s first-ever appearance against England on the occasion of his 206th cap, as he looks to extend his lead (21) over Kylian Mbappe (20) in the all-time World Cup goalscoring charts and move clear of the France forward at the 2026 edition. Both sit on eight goals.

The winners of England against Argentina will face Spain in the World Cup final at 8pm BST on Sunday, July 19, at New York/ New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium). Spain beat favourites France 2-0 in the first semi-final in Dallas on Tuesday.