← Back to News
England to wear all-white kit against Argentina
Players
B
BBC Sport·about 15 hours ago

England to wear all-white kit against Argentina

Image caption, England's Jude Bellingham has scored six goals at the 2026 World Cup, while Argentina's Lionel Messi has scored eight

Image source, Getty Images Image caption, England's Jude Bellingham has scored six goals at the 2026 World Cup, while Argentina's Lionel Messi has scored eight

England will wear their all-white home kit to face Argentina in the semi-finals of the World Cup in Atlanta on Wednesday.

Holders Argentina will be in their navy blue away strip, with black shorts and socks, for the game at the Atlanta Stadium (20:00 BST), which will be shown live on the BBC.

They have only worn the darker kit once during the tournament, in their 3-1 win against Jordan in the group stage.

Argentina have enjoyed success in their away kit against England at previous World Cups.

They defeated the Three Lions 2-1 in the 1986 quarter-finals, in which Diego Maradona scored the 'Hand of God' goal, and also secured a last-16 penalty shootout victory over their old rivals at the 1998 tournament in France.

BBC experts pick their England World Cup semi-final XI - do you agree?

Published 3 hours ago 'Animals', Hand of God and Beckham - Argentina and England's World Cup rivalry

Published 1 day ago Most clinical? Least creative? Best in the air? Comparing the last four

Published 1 hour ago The home and away kits were reversed in 2002 for their group-stage match in Japan, with England claiming a 1-0 victory in red while Argentina wore their traditional striped kit.

Media outlets in Argentina have reported the team requested to wear the away kit in favour of their usual light blue and white strip for Wednesday's last-four tie.

Fifa's preference is for each team to wear its first-choice colours, but if there is a potential clash it will follow steps to ensure an acceptable colour contrast is found.

Football's world governing body also tries to make sure there is a dark-kit and light-kit colour contrast, in the interests of fans with colour vision deficiency (colour blindness).

England booked their place in the semi-finals with a 2-1 extra-time victory against Norway on Saturday, while Argentina claimed a dramatic 3-1 win over 10-man Switzerland, also in extra time, on Sunday.

Image caption, Argentina wore their away kit when Maradona scored his infamous opening goal against England at the 1986 World Cup - dubbed the 'Hand of God'

Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Argentina wore their away kit when Maradona scored his infamous opening goal against England at the 1986 World Cup - dubbed the 'Hand of God'

Image caption, Maradona then scored a sublime second during Argentina's 2-1 win in the quarter-finals

Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Maradona then scored a sublime second during Argentina's 2-1 win in the quarter-finals

Image caption, England wore white again in a penalty shootout loss to Argentina at the 1998 World Cup, where David Beckham was sent off for kicking out at midfielder Diego Simeone

Image source, Getty Images Image caption, England wore white again in a penalty shootout loss to Argentina at the 1998 World Cup, where David Beckham was sent off for kicking out at midfielder Diego Simeone

Image caption, Beckham gained redemption four years later when he scored a penalty in a 1-0 group-stage win over Argentina, with England wearing their red away kit

Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Beckham gained redemption four years later when he scored a penalty in a 1-0 group-stage win over Argentina, with England wearing their red away kit

Previous image Next image Slide 1 of 4 , Diego Maradona scores his infamous goal for Argentina against England at the 1986 World Cup , Argentina wore their away kit when Maradona scored his infamous opening goal against England at the 1986 World Cup - dubbed the 'Hand of God' End of image gallery Related topics Football England Men's Football Team FIFA World Cup 2026 Argentina More on this story How Maradona dominated England in 1986

Argentina v England 1998 - Owen, Beckham and penalty pain

Argentina v England 2002 - Redemption for Beckham

Sources: BBC Sport

Get WC 2026 Updates

Match previews, results, and standings — delivered to your inbox.

Related Articles

World Cup scouting report: the lowdown on England’s semi-final opponents Argentina | Nick Ames
Players

World Cup scouting report: the lowdown on England’s semi-final opponents Argentina | Nick Ames

Defending champions will pose a threat with Messi’s genius but their lack of width and energy in the midfield offers encouragement for Thomas Tuchel Switzerland knew how to deal with Lionel Messi. They congested the centre of the pitch and made it im

T
The Guardian·about 15 hours ago
What the stars are saying before the semi-finals
Players

What the stars are saying before the semi-finals

Major tournaments are often underpinned by players who rarely grab the headlines but there are also moments when the biggest names take centre stage. That has certainly been the case in North America this summer at a tournament which has been widely

F
FIFA Official·about 15 hours ago
Most clinical? Least creative? Best in the air? Comparing the last four
Players

Most clinical? Least creative? Best in the air? Comparing the last four

Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Will Kylian Mbappe make his third World Cup final for France?

B
BBC Sport·about 15 hours ago
Terry: World-class Bellingham reminds me of Zidane
Players

Terry: World-class Bellingham reminds me of Zidane

Jude Bellingham has been so influential in England’s run to the semi-finals that he is beginning to resemble Zinedine Zidane – according to Three Lions legend John Terry.

F
FIFA Official·about 15 hours ago
Video Footage Indicates England's Jude Bellingham Still Hampered By Shoulder Injury
Players

Video Footage Indicates England's Jude Bellingham Still Hampered By Shoulder Injury

England fans have been left sweating over the fitness of Jude Bellingham after the Real Madrid midfielder was seen clutching his shoulder during the World Cup quarter-final against Norway. Despite undergoing corrective surgery in the past, the 23-yea

F
Fox Sports·about 15 hours ago
Erling Haaland Labels England 'Lucky To Have' Jude Bellingham After World Cup Heroics
Players

Erling Haaland Labels England 'Lucky To Have' Jude Bellingham After World Cup Heroics

Erling Haaland has warned England that they are fortunate to possess a talent like Jude Bellingham after the midfielder's heroics propelled the Three Lions into the World Cup semi-finals.

F
Fox Sports·about 15 hours ago