Staged at 12 venues throughout Mexico between May 31 and June 29, 1986, the 1986 FIFA World Cup was the second to feature 24 teams, rather than 16. As in 1982, the tournament format consisted of six groups of four teams, but the top two teams in each group, plus the four highest-ranked third-placed teams, advanced to a knockout stage, rather than a second group stage.
Unseeded in Group A, having been eliminated at the second group stage in 1982, eventual winners Argentina nonetheless topped the group with five points. La Albiceleste beat South Korea 3-1 at Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City, drew 1-1 with Italy at Estadio Cuauhtémoc in Puebla City and beat Bulgaria 2-0, also at Estadio Olímpico Universitario.
In the round of 16, Argentina beat Uruguay 1-0, also at Estadio Cuauhtémoc, to set up a quarter-final meeting with England at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The latter fixture was notable for the performance of Argetine captain Diego Maradona, who scored both goals in a 2-0 victory. The first of them, dubbed the ‘Hand of God’ goal, was a case of blatant handball, which bizarrely went unnoticed by both referee and linesman, but the second, four minutes later, was a sublime, solo effort, which was later voted ‘Goal of the Century’ in a poll conducted by FIFA.
Maradona again scored both goals in a 2-0 semi-final victory over Belgium at the same venue three days later. The World Cup final, against West Germany, again at Estadio Azteca, produced a thrilling finish. Argentina led 2-0, thanks to goals from centre-back José Luis Brown and
forward Jorge Valdano Castellanos, either side of half-time, but were dragged back to 2-2 after goals by West German captain Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and substitute Rudolf ‘Rudi’ Völler, both from close range, after 74 and 81 minutes, respectively. However, there was still time for central midfielder Jorge Burruchaga to collect a through ball from Maradona and finish past advancing goalkeeper Harald Schumacher from just outside the six-yard box afetr 84 minutes. The match finished 3-2 in favour of Argentina, who collected the World Cup trophy for the second time in three tournaments.