Argentina accused of ‘mind games’ with late FIFA kit request before England clash
With just days to go before their highly anticipated World Cup semi-final showdown against England, Argentina have sparked controversy by submitting a late, special kit request to football’s governing body, FIFA.
Critics are already accusing Lionel Scaloni’s men of playing psychological warfare ahead of Wednesday’s (July 15) blockbuster clash in Atlanta, where a coveted spot in the World Cup final will be on the line.
According to prominent Argentine journalist Gaston Edul, La Albiceleste have officially asked FIFA for permission to wear their alternative blue away shirt instead of their traditional sky-blue and white stripes.
While FIFA has yet to approve the request, a final decision is expected on Tuesday—less than 24 hours before kickoff. England, having been designated as the official “home” side for the fixture, will step out in their traditional all-white kit.
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The sudden request has raised eyebrows, given the fiery and dramatic history between these two footballing giants. Interestingly, Argentina’s two most iconic World Cup victories over the Three Lions came while wearing their dark blue away colours.
In the 1986 quarter-final, Diego Maradona scored his infamous “Hand of God” and “Goal of the Century” to secure a 2-1 win.
In the1998 round of 16, Argentina advanced after David Beckham was famously red-carded for kicking out at Diego Simeone.
The power of the ‘Cábala’
While no official reason was given for the request, football fans and pundits are pointing directly to Argentina’s deeply ingrained culture of superstition, known locally as ‘Cábala’.
Argentina is renowned for its intense national rituals during major tournaments. According to data highlighted by the BBC, a staggering one in four Argentinians actively practices specific rituals to influence the national team’s luck. These range from watching matches with the exact same group of people and sitting in the same armchairs, to wearing unwashed jerseys throughout the competition.
The national team itself has a long history of bizarre rituals. During their triumphant 1978 World Cup campaign, players Tolo Gallego and Daniel Passarella famously watched horror movies before matches for good luck. In 1986, legendary manager Carlos Salvador Bilardo strictly mandated that all players sit in the exact same seats on the team bus for every single match.
Whether FIFA grants the request or forces Scaloni’s side into their home kit remains to be seen, but the psychological battle lines for Wednesday’s epic encounter have already been drawn.
