Argentina has made a special request to FIFA just days before their game against England, with a final decision expected on Tuesday.
Argentina has been accused of trying to play mind games before their World Cup semi-final against England after they reportedly asked FIFA to let them wear a special kit.
Lionel Scaloni’s team will take on England in Atlanta on Wednesday, July 15, with a spot in the World Cup final at stake. These two teams have shared some unforgettable moments in the past, like Diego Maradona’s famous “Hand of God” goal that helped Argentina win 2-1 in the 1986 quarter-final.
Argentina also knocked England out in 1998 after David Beckham was sent off for kicking Diego Simeone. Interestingly, Argentina wore dark blue instead of their usual blue and white stripes in both those wins—and now, it looks like they want to do it again.
Argentine journalist Gaston Edul, who’s been following the team this summer, says Argentina has asked FIFA for permission to wear their blue away shirts. The request hasn’t been approved yet, but a final decision is expected on Tuesday, just a day before the game. England will wear their usual white as the home team.
There’s no official reason for Argentina’s kit request, but some think it’s a bit of superstition—known as a ‘Cábala’ in Argentina. As the BBC points out, many Argentinians are very into rituals and good luck charms during the World Cup. In fact, a survey showed that one in four Argentinians do little rituals to support their team.
Things like watching the game with the same people, sitting in the same chair, or wearing the same clothes during the tournament are common ways fans try to bring luck.
Some of these traditions go back a long way. In the 1978 World Cup, players Tolo Gallego and Daniel Passarella watched horror movies before matches. And in 1986, coach Carlos Salvador Bilardo made the players sit in the same seats on the bus to every game.
No matter what happens with the kit, all eyes will be on these two teams when they meet on Wednesday!