1986 FIFA World Cup

1986 FIFA World Cup
Copa Mundial de Fútbol
México '86
 (Spanish)
1986 FIFA World Cup official logo, designed by Rubén Santiago Hernández
Tournament details
Host countryMexico
Dates31 May – 29 June
Teams24 (from 5 confederations)
Venue(s)12 (in 11 host cities)
Final positions
Champions Argentina (2nd title)
Runners-up West Germany
Third place France
Fourth place Belgium
Tournament statistics
Matches played52
Goals scored132 (2.54 per match)
Attendance2,394,031 (46,039 per match)
Top scorer(s)England Gary Lineker (6 goals)
Best player(s)Argentina Diego Maradona
Best young playerBelgium Enzo Scifo
Fair play award Brazil
1982
1990
Diego Maradona celebrating with the Trophy. Argentina won the tournament unbeaten

The 1986 FIFA World Cup was the 13th FIFA World Cup, a quadrennial football tournament for men's senior national teams. It was played in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June 1986. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so, and resigned in November 1982. Mexico was selected as the new host in May 1983, and became the first country to host the World Cup more than once, after previously hosting the 1970 edition.

The World Cup was won by Argentina (their second title, after winning in 1978). 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, as well as another voted the "Goal of the Century", in the same quarter-final against England. These were two of the five goals that Maradona scored during the tournament, and he also created another five for his teammates.[1] Argentina beat West Germany 3–2 in the final at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca. Total attendance was 2,394,031, an average per match of 46,039.[2] Canada, Denmark and Iraq made their first appearances at the final stage.

The format of the competition changed from 1982. The final pair of matches in each group started at the same time[3] and the second round was played on a knock-out basis rather than groups. The 24 teams qualified 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.

The tournament saw the appearance of the Mexican wave, a spectator phenomenon which was popularised worldwide after featuring during the tournament.[4][5][6]

  1. ^ "1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico – Overview". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 9 July 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  2. ^ "1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  3. ^ "The Game that Changed the World Cup — Algeria". algeria.com. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  4. ^ "Who invented the Mexican Wave?". BBC. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  5. ^ Jackson, Andy (11 June 2010). "...Fan Crazes". FourFourTwo (Australia). Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  6. ^ Rice, Simon (10 June 2010). "The 100 greatest World Cup moments. # 94. The Mexican Wave". The Independent. Retrieved 25 August 2011.

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