English head coach Thomas Tuchel has said he totally understands Argentina’s decision to wear their iconic dark blue away kit for Wednesday’s FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final, saying he would have made the same decision if superstition was behind it.
The world champions have switched out the sky blue and white stripes for the dark blue jersey and will forever be associated with some of Argentina’s most memorable wins against England on the biggest stage of football.
Before the all-time epic clash, Tuchel smiled when he was asked about Argentina’s choice and said the rituals and superstitions are part of elite sport.
"I would have done the same if there was any superstition combined with it. So credit to them. I wasn’t aware of that," Tuchel said.
'Every Team Has Its Lucky Charms'
The England boss also confirmed he has his own matchday routines and wouldn’t get into detail about them.
"I have a superstitious routine. I won't tell you because another superstition is that if I tell you, it won’t work,” he joked, which drew laughter from reporters.
Tuchel also said such habits are common at the highest level of sport.
"Such routines are what all of us have and they are in place all day. They don’t change. And yes, we also have lucky charms. And in high-level sport, those things are entirely normal."
Why Argentina’s Blue Kit Matters
Argentina's dark blue jersey is more than just an alternate strip—it is part of decades of World Cup history.
It was worn in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final, when Diego Maradona scored both the controversial "Hand of God" goal and the unforgettable "Goal of the Century" in a 2-1 win over England.
The Albiceleste wore the same colours again in 1998, when they eliminated England on penalties after a dramatic 2-2 draw in the Round of 16.
As such, many fans say the shirt has become a lucky charm whenever Argentina plays England at the World Cup.
Scaloni Plays Down Superstition
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, however, said he wasn’t the one who picked the jersey and played down speculation that superstition influenced the decision.
"I didn’t ask for the blue one. I don’t know who did. I don’t know. Or maybe it’s tradition. I really don’t know,” Scaloni said.
He also liked Tuchel's light-hearted response.
"If Thomas has no problem with it, then neither do I."
A Semi-Final Full of History
The match in Atlanta will add to one of the world’s most bitter rivalries.
England will be in their first World Cup final since winning the trophy in 1966 and Argentina will seek that title they won four years ago.
The South Americans will go into the semi-final in exceptional form and won all six games at the tournament and 12 straight World Cup games overall. They have also scored a tournament-high 17 goals.
And England has now secured a place in the final four with a 2-1 extra-time win over Norway.
Argentina has all the confidence in history, despite England having an overall advantage in head-to-head meetings. Two of England’s three World Cup defeats to Argentina (1986 and 1998) were through the same dark blue jersey worn by La Albiceleste.
In some sense it’s superstition or tradition, but Argentina will be hoping the famous blue shirt brings them luck once more as they try to reach another World Cup final.
