Exorcising the Haunting Hand of God - can FIFA win with England?

WEDNESDAY 15 JULY 2026 - LOS ANGELES - 40 years ago at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, within the Estadio Azteca, Argentina defeated England 2-1 in the quarter final. That day, Diego Maradona delivered the haunting Hand of God to illegally punch the ball over England Goalkeeper Peter Shilton CBE. A decade ago at a dinner of the Southern Amateur League, Peter recalled the experience for us. Some say that Maradona's so-called Hand of God cheated England out of a place in the 1986 World Cup Semi-Final but we all know that those moments in a match are influential and not the only factor. Maradona scored a genuine goal of genius that day. Lineker also struck back for England. If the Hand of God goal was disallowed, the score might have been level and ended in a penalty shootout, which everyone expects England to lose anyway.

Today, England has a World Cup Semi Final and again Argentina stands in its way to the final. England's last World Cup Semi Final was at Russia 2018 where Croatia won.

In the 2026 World Cup, England is exorcising its ghosts of earlier tournaments:

1. Its first match was a 4-2 win over Croatia.

2. Its last 16 match brought a 3-2 victory over Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, where Maradona was allowed to win with the so-called Hand of God.

Today, England could complete the exorcism against Argentina and advance to a final fixture against Spain - the reigning champions of Europe that defeated France yesterday in the other World Cup 2026 Semi Final. In the studio after that match, Thierry Henry said that England will face the Left Foot of God and meant Lionel Messi. However, rather than Messi, the English camp might fear more inappropriate intervention by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

Nobody expects a referee to be perfect in real time, or even a human system of review to be flawless. However where obvious video evidence can enable a correct decision, everyone expects the rule of law to prevail effectively. Indeed, the rule of law assures fair opportunities for the financial, emotional and other investments of fans, national associations, governments, sponsors and more in football.

For example, in this tournament it struck many as unfair when Folarin Balogun was sent off whereas Messi was not for a very similar foul. FIFA might argue that overturning the Balogun suspension was a way of reducing the unjust impact. Even if the method of overturning was unorthodox and failed to follow due process as alleged by the Belgian FA.

That reduction of unjust impact is not a justification for the political interference in the disciplinary process, as was claimed by the President of the United States. Instead it is a request for FIFA to ensure that the laws of the game are enforced effectively and evenly, so that investment in the beautiful game and its most important cultural competitions is not undermined now, or deterred in future.

Otherwise it could compound the brand damage that ticket prices are doing the 2026 World Cup, which the United States has learned to love.

Would it be better for the brand value of the FIFA World Cup if England reaches the final against Spain, than if Argentina gets there again?

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