How Maradona’s 'Hand of God' fueled the Argentina-England rivalry

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Argentina player Diego Maradona outjumps England goalkeeper Peter Shilton to score with his 'Hand of God' goal as England defenders Kenny Sansom (top) Gary Stevens (c) and Terry Fenwick look on during the 1986 FIFA World Cup Quarter Final at the Azte

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Forty years after two of the most famous goals in soccer history – the "Hand of God" and the "Goal of the Century" – happened in the same World Cup showdown between Argentina and England, the two teams are set to face off once again – and the stakes are even higher this time.

Big picture view:

In 1986, Argentina was marching toward its second World Cup championship. To get past The Three Lions of England, they were going to need a little divine help. A little of the magic that only comes once every 100 years or so didn’t hurt either.

The backstory:

The two clubs met in the quarterfinals on June 22, and what happened on the pitch that day is unforgettable for everyone watching and will remain etched in soccer lore for generations: Two goals so memorable that they are simply known now as the "Hand of God" and the "Goal of the Century."

To top it off, both moments hinged on one legendary player, the late Diego Maradona.

‘Hand of God’

In a sport where kicking and headers rule, it could be considered ironic that the top entry is all about a punch.

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In the 51st minute of a scoreless tie, Maradona leapt for a ball against English goalkeeper Peter Shilton. Looking like he was going for a header, the 5-foot-5 midfielder instead stuck his arm up and punched the ball into the net. England protested, but the goal stood.

After the game, Maradona was quoted as saying that the goal came "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God."

‘Goal of the Century’

Not five minutes later, Maradona struck again. This time there was no controversy, just a soccer legend driving up the field in total control of the ball and navigating past multiple defenders until he put the ball in the net for what became the "Goal of the Century."

What they're saying:

"Everyone remembers that match; they are iconic goals — well, there were two iconic goals in this stadium," England coach Thomas Tuchel said Saturday, a day before England was to meet Mexico in the Round of 16.

Dig deeper:

England helped wipe away part of the memory earlier in the knockout stages with that victory over Mexico. The vindication, however, was not about who they faced; it was about where they were: Estadio Azteca.

That’s the same field where Argentina ended their 1986 World Cup dreams, and winning there is no easy task. Mexico has only lost there two other times in the 60 years since the stadium opened, and the most recent of the two was back in 2013.

What's next:

Wednesday’s match will add a new chapter to the long-storied rivalry between Argentina and England.

In this photo illustration, (L-R) Julian Alvarez, Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandez of Argentina and Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane of England (Photo by FIFA/FIFA via Getty Imag

FIFA World Cup 2026 Semifinal match for Wednesday, July 15

England vs Argentina

3:00 p.m. ET
Atlanta Stadium
Network: FOX

England

England has qualified for 17 FIFA World Cups, winning once in 1966 when they were the host country. Through the years, they have experienced a mix of quarter-final appearances, memorable semi-final runs, and penalty heartbreak. The team is led by striker Harry Kane, who is considered one of the best players in the world, having scored over 500 career goals in club and country matches.

Argentina

Argentina has 19 World Cup appearances and are the reigning FIFA World Cup champions after earning their third World Cup title at Qatar in 2022. Argentina also won in 1978, when they hosted the tournament, and 1986. The team is led by superstar forward Lionel Messi, who has played in six World Cups and won the World Cup Golden Ball twice as the tournament's best player.

How to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026

Outside of watching FOX on live broadcast TV, there are several options audiences can choose from to enjoy the soccer matches.

One free option is through FIFA+ and select YouTube streams.

Other paid options include:

FOX Sports World Cup coverage

FIFA World Cup 2026

For 2026, the FIFA World Cup expanded to a 48-team tournament featuring 104 matches taking place from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

FIFA World Cup semi-finals

The FIFA World Cup semi-finals stage of the tournament features the final four teams playing in a single-elimination match with the two winning teams advancing to the World Cup Final championship. The two losing teams face each other in a separate 2026 FIFA World Cup Third-Place Playoff (Bronze Final) match taking place on July 18 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

What are the FIFA World Cup semi-finals rules?

The FIFA World Cup quarterfinals rules are the same as both the Round of 32 and Round of 16 rules. Each match is played for 90 minutes of play, plus any stoppage time. If tied after the end of regulation time, the teams play 30 minutes of extra time, which is split into two 15-minute halves. If the match remains tied after the 30 minutes of extra time, the teams advance to a penalty shootout to determine who moves on.

When is the FIFA World Cup 2026 final?

A general view of MetLife Stadium ahead of the 2026 World Cup at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

Timeline:

The FIFA World Cup 2026 final will take place July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the culmination of a month-long tournament hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

FIFA World Cup Sports