In 1986, Mexico became the first nation to stage
the World Cup Finals for a second time; having only staged the competition 16 years
previously, in 1970.
Colombia were the original choice as hosts but dropped out in 1983,
for financial reasons.
Quick Links
Mexico 1986 - First
Round, Second Round, Quarter-finals, Semi-finals,
Third place, 1986
World Cup Final.
Mexico was hit by an earthquake, killing 20,000 people, before the
finals but as the stadiums were not affected, the tournament went ahead as scheduled.
The two-round, group format, used in Spain
82, was dropped in favour of a last 16 knockout system for the winners and runners-up
of the six first-round groups; along with the best four, third-placed teams.
This meant that only eight teams went home early: Algeria, Canada,
Hungary, Iraq, Northern Ireland, Portugal, Scotland and South Korea.
The enthusiasm of the Mexican fans was contagious as they brought the
'Mexican Wave' to the watching world. Unfortunately, for the host nation, the team were
held (0:0) in the quarter-finals, by West Germany and lost out on penalties; only managing
to convert one penalty, in response to West Germany's four.
Enough about the losers, the winners of the tournament were Argentina;
inspired by Diego Maradona (5 goals), who helped knock England out at the quarter-final
stage with his legendary 'Hand of God' act of cheating. To make up for it, the soon-to-be
cocaine addict scored a superb goal against Belgium, in the semi-finals.
The West Germans, once again, ended up the beaten finalists (3rd time)
as Argentina celebrated a (3:2) final victory and their second spell as World Cup
champions.
31st May
Mexico City: Bulgaria vs Italy (1:1)
2nd June
Mexico City: Argentina vs South Korea (3:1)
5th June
Mexico City: South Korea vs Bulgaria (1:1)
Puebla: Italy vs Argentina (1:1)
10th June
Mexico City: Argentina vs Bulgaria (2:0)
Puebla: Italy vs South Korea (3:2)
Argentina, Italy
and Bulgaria make it to the Last
16.
3rd June
Mexico City: Mexico vs Belgium (2:1)
4th June
Toluca: Paraguay vs Iraq (1:0)
7th June
Mexico City: Mexico vs Paraguay (1:1)
8th June
Toluca: Belgium vs Iraq (2:1)
11th June
Mexico City: Mexico vs Iraq (1:0)
Toluca: Paraguay vs Belgium (2:2)
Mexico, Paraguay
and Belgium make it to the Last
16.
1st June
Leon: France vs Canada (1:0)
2nd June
Irapuato: USSR vs Hungary (6:0)
5th June
Leon: France vs USSR (1:1)
6th June
Irapuato: Hungary vs Canada (2:0)
9th June
Irapuato: USSR vs Canada (2:0)
Leon: France vs Hungary (3:0)
USSR and France
make it to the Last 16.
1st June
Guadalajara: Brazil vs Spain (1:0)
3rd June
Guadalajara: Algeria vs Northern Ireland (1:1)
6th June
Guadalajara: Brazil vs Algeria (1:0)
7th June
Guadalajara: Spain vs Northern Ireland (2:1)
12th June
Guadalajara: Brazil vs Northern Ireland (3:0)
Monterrey: Spain vs Algeria (3:0)
Brazil and Spain
make it to the Last 16.
4th June
Nezahualcoyotl: Denmark vs Scotland (1:0)
Queretaro: Uruguay vs West Germany (1:1)
8th June
Nezahualcoyotl: Denmark vs Uruguay (6:1)
Queretaro: West Germany vs Scotland (2:1)
13th June
Nezahualcoyotl: Scotland vs Uruguay (0:0)
Queretaro: Denmark vs West Germany (2:0)
Denmark, West Germany
and Uruguay make it to the Last
16.
2nd June
Monterrey: Morocco vs Poland (0:0)
3rd June
Monterrey: Portugal vs England (1:0)
6th June
Monterrey: England vs Morocco (0:0)
7th June
Monterrey: Poland vs Portugal (1:0)
11th June
Guadalajara: Morocco vs Portugal (3:1)
Monterrey: England vs Poland (3:0)
Morocco, England
and Poland make it to the Last
16.
15th June
Leon: Belgium vs USSR (4:3 aet)
Mexico City: Mexico vs Bulgaria (2:0)
16th June
Guadalajara: Brazil vs Poland (4:0)
Puebla: Argentina vs Uruguay (1:0)
17th June
Mexico City: France vs Italy (2:0)
Monterrey: West Germany vs Morocco
(1:0)
18th June
Mexico City: England vs Paraguay (3:0)
Queretaro: Spain vs Denmark (5:1)
21st June
Guadalajara: France vs Brazil (1:1
aet) (4:3pens)
Monterrey: West Germany
vs Mexico (0:0 aet) (4:1pens)
22June
Mexico City: Argentina vs England
(2:1)
Puebla: Belgium vs
Spain (1:1 aet) (5:4pens)
Guadalajara: West Germany
vs France (2:0)
Mexico City: Argentina
vs Belgium (2:0)
Puebla: France vs Belgium (4:2 aet)
1986 World Cup
Final
29th June:
Argentina vs West Germany (3:2)
Mexico
City.
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