Ahead of the World Cup quarter-final against Switzerland, the Argentine Football Federation (AFA) has formally requested FIFA’s approval for the team to wear the black mourning armband following the passing of Antonio Ubaldo Rattin, who has died aged 89. Rattin captained Argentina at the 1962 and 1966 FIFA World Cups and is widely considered one of the country’s greatest football icons.
FIFA approved the request, allowing Lionel Messi and his teammates to wear black armbands during the victory over Switzerland. The governing body also extended the permit, allowing Argentina to continue wearing the armband in the semi-final against England.
France faced a very different result at the start of the tournament. During the group stage, the French Football Federation (FFF) asked FIFA for permission to allow players to wear a black armband in memory of Didier Deschamps’ mother, who died while the World Cup was underway.
The tragedy forced the France coach to temporarily leave the United States, leaving assistant coach Guy Stéphan in charge of the match against Norway. The FFF also hoped to observe a minute’s silence before kick-off.
However, FIFA rejected the request. According to reports, the pre-match tribute had already been set aside to honor the victims of the devastating earthquake in Venezuela, meaning France could not organize a further memorial ceremony. Instead, Guy Stéphan brought a bouquet of flowers onto the pitch as a personal tribute to Deschamps’ late mother.
According to FIFA regulations, national teams cannot wear the black mourning armband during the World Cup without prior approval. Each request is evaluated individually.
In the case of Argentina, FIFA determined that Antonio Ubaldo Rattin’s legacy was directly linked to the history of international football and the FIFA World Cup itself. Since he was a former legendary player and World Cup captain, the tribute was considered football-related and therefore eligible for approval.
France’s request, however, centered on the disappearance of Didier Deschamps’ mother. While his death represented a profound personal loss for the French coach, he was not a football figure, leading FIFA to reject the request under existing guidelines.
The distinction has sparked mixed reactions from fans, with some defending FIFA’s enforcement of its regulations, while others say the rules lack compassion in cases involving personal bereavement.
As well as being allowed to wear the black armband, Argentina were granted another exception before facing England in the semi-final. FIFA has approved Argentina’s request to wear the dark blue alternative kit instead of the traditional blue and white striped shirt, allowing England to play in their iconic white shirts.
It marked only the second time Argentina wore the dark blue kit during the 2026 World Cup, following an earlier group stage match against Jordan.
Sources: kenh14
