1986 FIFA WORLD CUP
Part 1
When the World Cup was agreed to be expanded to 32 teams, it would had several side effects to it which meant more stadiums being needed with the job in mind. While Spain had more or less the stadiums needed for the task in mind, things would start to become more problematic as soon as Columbia was awarded to host the 1986 World Cup. Despite having high hopes to put on a good show, it would turn out that they had bitten off more than they could chew as combined the much needed teams needed as well as economic concerns the country was going through, it was decided on the 5th November 1982 that they would decline to host the World Cup and on the 20th May the following year after a vote to be new hosts which came down between Argentina, Mexico, Canada and the United States, the latter would get to host it much to everyone's shock[1].
The chose to award the World Cup to the United States, which at that time had no real professional league to speak of and wasn't even a football, or rather soccer, minded country seemed like a strange one however there would be a number of factors which one was that the United States who not only had the stadiums already in place that were used for American football teams but that having the World Cup coming to America would have some major effects in bring football, or rather soccer, to greater audience and the appeal of the US dollar [2]. Some though were felt that FIFA was more interested in money in which the loudest criticism came from the organisers of the Argentine bid who felt that they were in much better shape to host it compared to the embarrassment of being stripped of it in 1978 and that the United States was not right for it. Argentina would get it's chance later on but that's another story...[3]
The expansion had seen many nations that might had no previously been interested in football had now taken a great deal more interest in the game and the United States were no different with games being shown live during the 1978 World Cup and interest had only grown by the time the following World Cup had taken off Stateside so the timing to host the World Cup seemed perfect for FIFA to help interest in the sport to grow further [4].
Venues of the 1986 World Cup
While this all sounded good, having the United States as the host did bring up question about if there might be boycott of nations seen as such the Olympic games in 1984 which the Untied States had also hosted and with that still fresh in the mind, would lightning strike twice? However despite these fears, the Warsaw Pact nations stated that they would still go regardless and this was during a period in which Perestroika was taking effect with relations between the United States and Soviet Union starting to look friendly and hoped that there wouldn't another boycott.
Indeed, the idea of having football teams from the Warsaw Pact playing on American soil was felt that it would be a watershed moment to show that the Cold War might've been coming to end and with the Soviet Union, Hungary, Poland and Bulgaria qualifying, it felt that this could be special. More amazing was during the draw in December, which took place in New York's Madison Square Garden, in which despite rumours that FIFA would keep the United States and Soviet Union apart in the draw, they were drawn together in the same group which the audience gathered gasped then applauded and this could be something very special.
However some felt that it was all a little bit too perfect and on the 15th April, a month before the World Cup was due to start, the United States bombed Libya [5] which drew much criticism from the international community, especially those from the Warsaw Pact who then made the shock announcement that they would be boycotting the World Cup which brought the whole tournament into chaos and many wonder if this World Cup was cursed from the moment that Columbia were awarded it.
It was a blow in East-West relations and also FIFA had a problem to try and fill in vacant spots for nations that will willing to take part in what was pretty much a repeat of the 1950 edition in which many nations dropped out from competing [6]. However it was later found out that the bombing had proved to be a perfect excuse for those nations not to attend as secretly, many of those nations didn't really want to go and thus it felt all that hard work had been for nothing, however the good news was unlike the 1950 World Cup which saw an odd number of teams, there were many teams happy to fill the spot left vacant.
The teams of the 1986 World Cup after new teams take the place of the boycotting nations
UEFA would see the most teams to replace as taking the place of the Soviets, Poles, Hungarians and Bulgarians would be Yugoslavia, Wales, Netherlands and Switzerland, all of whom had failed to qualify and were more than happy to fill the gaps left. The other team that had to be replaced was Libya who despite having qualified, had dropped out for obvious reasons and so Ghana, the team that had been beaten by Libya in the final round of qualification [7] would go in Libya's place. However because of the late timing for these nations to get ready, some felt that they wouldn't be prepared and to prevent from another redraw which would've caused headaches, the teams were placed depending on their ranking such as Yugoslavia taking the the USSR's place.
While this crises had been averted and the football could begin, it was widely known by many that FIFA were left furious by the boycott and many felt that had the Soviet Union been awarded to host the 1990 World Cup instead of Italy [8] then it could've been a case of them being stripped of hosting rights and given to Italy regardless. In hindsight, the 1986 would have the most dramatic build-up for all the wrong reasons though the idea of the United States and the Soviet Union playing in the same group would be the ultimate 'what if moment to many...
However despite all the madness behind the scenes, it was finally time to begin the 1986 World Cup.
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Argentina vs Australia in the opening match of the World Cup
From Pasadena, the opening ceremony would be a colourful occasion which the Americans put on a show for the world to see as after that, Argentina and Australia would play in the opening match in which despite being heavily outgunned, the Australians only lost 2-1 and would sneak into second place with a victory over Belgium and a draw with South Korea which once again, the Socceroos and had it to the knockout stages once again.
For Argentina, the world champions would dominate the group with victories over Belgium and South Korea to top the group and unlike the West Germans in the last World Cup, they didn't make an humiliating early exit and showed their worth in the hope of defending their crown and with the talent of on certain Maradona, they did feel like they could do just that.
Perhaps the biggest disappointment was Belgium who despite looking quite promising in the qualifying rounds would fall at the first round with the second game loss with Australia being their downfall. Nonetheless the group was largely how many felt it would go, though all eyes would be on the champions for obvious reasons...
Final rounds of Group A of World Cup 1986
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The Portugal team prior to the game with the USA
When the draw was made, it would have seen the United States and Soviet Union in the same group which caused a stir to say the least, however it also featured Libya and a cruel irony saw them being bombed and thus both them and the USSR would withdraw and in their places saw Yugoslavia and Ghana fill the gaps. The only side that didn't drop out was Portugal, though it turns out that despite being more prepared that their rivals, it would be a World Cup to forget as in their opening match with the hosts, Portugal suffered a terrible defeat in which was the USA's first victory at the World Cup since 1950. Portugal's flop of a run would see them go out thanks to a defeat to Yugoslavia despite a win over Ghana which was nothing more than a consolation for them.
Many didn't felt that the Americans would go out in the first round though that unlikely victory over Portugal spurred them on to go on unbeaten in the group with draws with Ghana and Yugoslavia following which the last group game with Yugoslavia being a celebration for both sides as they had done enough to qualify for the last 16 with it being historic for the hosts as it would be the first time that they had gotten out of the group stage for the first time [9].
Yugoslavia, despite their problems in getting to America would win the group much to everyone's surprise and would Yugoslavia be the dark horses this time round? For Ghana, it would be their first World Cup in 20 years [10] though their lack of preparation time showed as they finished bottom of the group. Nonetheless it would be looked on as a quite a surprising group.
Final result of Group B at the 1986 World Cup
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Brazil vs Algeria at the 1986 World Cup
To say Group C was an oddball group would be saying a lot that featured the very experienced Brazil team, a very non-experience Canadian team making their first appearance [11], a plucky Algerian team and a unknown Dutch team. To no one's surprise, Brazil won all their games to top their group, though perhaps the shock was seeing Algeria making into second place with the Dutch falling in third place on the tightest of goal difference which saw they go home early.
The Dutch would blame their failure to progress on the lack of preparation needed before arriving at the World Cup, though it was pointed out that had Algeria not scored a second goal against Canada then the Dutch might've gone though despite a 2-0 defeat to Brazil. For Algeria, it felt that the spirt of '82 was with them and their underdog nature won them a place in the hearts of the American public.
For the Canadians, it would be a first appearance to forget as their inexperience showed and finished rock bottom with no goals or points to show for it. Nonetheless, it had been quite an interesting group that many wonder what would happen next for both teams...
Final results of Group C at the 1986 World Cup
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The French team of 1986 prior to their match with Chile
For many, Group D looked like a hard one to call with France expected to go through with Spain and Chile fighting it out for second place with poor Israel seen as the whipping boys of the group. Many expected that France would doo well and they would win their group with maximum points with the game with Spain being seen a classic. However it was the final group game with Chile and Spain which was considered as one of the greatest matches of the World Cup in which it was seen as a victory for either side would see the victorious team going through.
The game would end in a thrilling 3-3 draw in which both sides went for it but in the end, it would be Spain that went through thanks to goal difference and Chile felt frustrated that they had come so close yet so far to making it as part of last 16. For Israel, compared to their 1970 adventure which had seem them come up just short of reaching the knockout stage [12], they pretty much were a flop here and went home without a trace.
Group D would though be a group that many felt was how it would play out and now many wonder if France could do one better and this time win the World Cup?
Final results of Group D at the 1986 World Cup
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England vs Scotland in Group E at the 1986 World Cup
If the sight of the USA and USSR in the same group caused a stir, then so too was the placing of England and Scotland in the same group at a World Cup for the first time. The two British teams were blessed to have quite a soft group in which England and Scotland got victories over Paraguay and United Arab Emirates respectably. However it was in the second group match between the two British sides that suspicious ran high as the two teams played in a dull 0-0 draw in which the feeling was that the two teams had colluded with each other to help better their chances in which the Paraguayans cried foul the loudest over this. The game itself, being played out in Washington, wouldn't go down well with the American public with cries of 'Cheating British Bastards' being heard on a live broadcast.
Despite this infamous moment, both British teams won their final group games in which Scotland took care of Paraguay while England thrashed UAE which saw both England and Scotland going through, though they would be accused by many over that game in which despite both sides denying such claims, many in Paraguay felt they had been cheated out despite losing to Scotland in their final group game.
Nonetheless with both British teams going through, the two of them wouldn't be able to face off each other unless they both got to the final and who was hoping that a repeat of the 1966 final, exactly 20 years ago, could be possible here in the States...?
Final results of Group E of the 1986 World Cup
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The Moroccan team prior to their game with Northern Ireland
Group F was looked on as the weakest group as other than Italy, the other teams seemed to have not much in them though some felt that Japan, after making it out of the group stage in the last World Cup might be able to do it again here. However what many had expected that this would see the rise of Morocco who would beat Northern Ireland in their opening match to then record a shock 1-1 draw with Italy to then finally beat Japan in a thrilling 3-2 victory.
For Japan and Northern Ireland who had managed to surprise many by getting out of the group stage in 1982 would end up with a just a point between them and would end up going home early. Italy though would be a vast improvement over the last time by winning the group and progressing to the knockout stage though it is fair to say that the Italians were helped on by many thousands of Italian immigrates during their American adventure.
Morocco though were the main story of the group who had played some great football and who was to say that with more African teams going through, was the balance of power of the European and South American teams starting to slip?
Final Group F results of the 1986 World Cup
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Mexico and West Germany prior to kick off
Group G was looked on with many thinking that West Germany and Mexico would progress and the Germans were keen not to make an early exit like last time. However Mexico would have the largest away support during the 1986 World Cup and such support would only help them win the group via goal difference while the West Germans would go into second place.
The other members of the group would be Switzerland and Iraq, however both didn't really set the world on fire as both got routed in their opening matches and only the Swiss could get a victory over Iraq in the second match before both lost again to Mexico and West Germany. However Iraq would get their first goal against Germany and it would prove to be crucial as that goal helped the Mexicans leapfrog the Germans to win the group.
There were really nothing much else to say other than what many thought how the group would end up like. After which, both sides felt quite confidant that they both could see each other again for the final...that is, if both managed to get there first...
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Danish players celebrate after scoring a goal over Wales
The final group, Group H, was looked on as the weakest group though it would bring out one of the more unlikely cult like teams to ever play at a World Cup, Denmark. The Danes would beat the Welsh in a tight 1-0 victory before destroying the Uruguayans in their second match 6-1 before getting a 1-1 draw with Tunisia. Wales like some other teams were hampered by the lack of preparation that they needed and finished in third place a point behind Tunisia which saw the African team go through.
Uruguay would though end up have a violent brawl of a match with the Welsh in their final group match in which both sides needed a victory to go through or have any chance at all though it would see one certain player get sent off in the quickest time possible. Both sides ended up fighting it out in a poor 0-0 draw which saw both make an early exit out of the World Cup.
However on the happy side, the 1986 World Cup would see something quite historic that due to Tunisia making it out of the group stage, it was the first time that three African teams had made it to the knockout stage and for three out of four for Africa's representatives that was quite a historic achievement which showed that football had now reached to an international appeal bigger than what anyone expected.
Final Group H results of the 1986 World Cup
With that, the Group stage was over the knockout stage could start and with huge crowds at all the venues, it was already looking like the 1986 World Cup was going to break attendance records and they hadn't even gotten to some of the more bigger games just yet. Who knows what lay in store for many teams' American Adventure?
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[1] Mexico doesn't get awarded like in OTL with the United States getting it due to football's bigger appeal here.
[2] Knowing FIFA, quite plausible...
[3] Watch this space!
[4] Kind of similar how the 1994 World Cup was awarded, though much earlier here.
[5] As OTL event.
[6] As per OTL.
[7] The OTL Third Round is the Final Round ITTL.
[8] As we all know, the boycott of the Olympic Games did help tip the balance of Italy hosting the cup which the will do so here.
[9] USA get out of the group stage much earlier here than OTL, which was 1994.
[10] For TTL at least.
[11] As OTL.
[12] Check back for TTL's 1970 WC.
And here are in the USA! Hope you enjoyed this update and for our American readers, we see soccer take off earlier here than OTL. Anyway, next games as follows...
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Argentina vs United States
France vs Algeria
England vs Morocco
Denmark vs West Germany
Yugoslavia vs Australia
Brazil vs Spain
Italy vs Scotland
Mexico vs Tunisia
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So who will go through all that? Plus, what are you liking about this TL so far compared to say, other football TL's? Also for a bit of fun if you remember on 'All To Play For', your 'memories' of TTL's 1986 World Cup at this point
Until then, stay tuned!