1986 FIFA World Cup
El Mundo Unido por Un Balón – The World United by a Ball
The 1986 FIFA World Cup was the 13th edition of the quadrennial football tournament for men's senior national teams, played in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June 1986. It was the second World Cup to feature a 24-team format. Colombia was originally chosen as host but withdrew in November 1982 due to economic reasons; Mexico was selected as the new host in May 1983, becoming the first country to host the World Cup more than once, after previously hosting the 1970 edition. The tournament was won by Argentina, their second title after winning in 1978.
- Tournament Host
- Mexico
- Captain
- Diego Maradona
- Final Result
- 3–2 vs West Germany
- Key Goal Scorers
- Diego Maradona (5), Jorge Burruchaga, Oscar Ruggeri, José Luis Brown
- Total Matches Played
- 7
- Golden Ball Winner
- Diego Maradona
Lore & Background
Argentina was captained by the 25-year-old Diego Maradona, who played a large part in his team's success by scoring his 'Hand of God' goal and another voted the 'Goal of the Century' in the same quarter-final match against England. These were two of the five goals Maradona scored during the tournament, and he also created another five for his teammates. Argentina beat West Germany 3–2 in the final at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca. Argentina would not win the World Cup again until 2022, 36 years later. Total attendance was 2,394,031, an average per match of 46,039. Canada, Denmark and Iraq made their first appearances at the final stage. The tournament saw the appearance of the Mexican wave, which was popularised worldwide after featuring during the tournament.
In Their Own Story
The air in the Azteca Stadium was thick with humidity and anticipation as the final whistle approached. The scoreboard read 2-0 against West Germany, but the blue and white stripes refused to surrender. In the dugout, Bilardo watched intently as Maradona, sweating through his jersey, orchestrated a counter-attack that felt like slow motion to everyone else. With a deft touch, he slipped the ball into the path of Burruchaga near the box. The striker struck it low and hard; the net rippled. The roar from the Argentine section was deafening, a sound that seemed to shake the very foundations of Mexico City. In that moment, history wasn't just being made; it was being rewritten by one man's magic.
Reader's Guide
The format changed from 1982: the final pair of matches in each group started at the same time, and the second round was played on a knockout basis rather than groups. The 24 qualified teams were divided into six groups of four (A to F). The top two teams and the four best third-place finishers from the six groups advanced to the knockout round of 16 teams. Italy were the defending champions but were eliminated by France in the round of 16. Argentina won the tournament unbeaten.
Did You Know?
- Diego Maradona scored the 'Goal of the Century' by dribbling past five English players and the goalkeeper in the quarter-final against England.
- Argentina drew 1–1 with Italy in the group stage, not losing any match in the tournament.
- In the final, Argentina led 2–0, West Germany equalized, and Argentina then scored a third to win 3–2.
- Gary Lineker won the Golden Boot with 6 goals; Maradona scored 5 goals in the tournament.
- Mexico became the first country to host the World Cup twice, having previously hosted in 1970.
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